Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate the biological effects of the use of topical and subconjunctival interferon alpha-2b, for the treatment of OSSN in patients from a tertiary care center, Ophthalmological Foundation of Santander (FOSCAL) from July 2012 to September 2015.
Methods :
Retrospective cohort study. Medical records from patients with primary diagnosis of OSSN treated with subconjunctival alpha-2b and/or topical interferon until resolution of the lesion were included for review and comparison. Clinical and photographic follow-up was carried out. The results are described herein.
Results :
41 eyes of 39 patients (16 female) were analyzed, with an average age of 61.5 ± 17.2 years. All received topical interferon and 10 received adjuvant subconjunctival therapy. The average treatment time was 22.9 weeks (7 to 60 weeks). In patients who recieved subconjunctival interferon, between 3 and 8 doses were applied with an average of 4.6 doses ± 1.7. Complete resolution of the tumor was found in 78% of the patients, without observing recurrence of the lesion in any of the cases. The average follow-up time was 15 months ± 12, (range: 1 month to 38 months). The complete resolution of the lesion in the subconjunctival therapy group was 80% vs. 58% in the group with only topic, however this difference was not statistically significant (RR 1.37, CI 0.87-2.17, P= 0.21).
Patients who failed to respond underwent surgical resection. 8 patients reported adverse effects such as burning and red eye; in a case with low endothelial cell count, moderate corneal edema occurred, in which causal relationship could not be clearly established with topical interferon treatment, but improved upon discontinuation. One of the patients with subconjunctival application presented flulike symptoms.
Conclusions :
The use of subcobjuntival and topical interferon alfa 2b is an effective and safe treatment for OSSN, findings that agree with current literature. The use of co-adjuvant subconjunctival interferon is superior to the single topical alternative. Additional studies are required.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.