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Gupta S, Singh P, Singh M, et al. Is Interferon α-2b 1 MillionIU/mL Truly Better Than Tacrolimus 0.03% for Steroid-Resistant VKC ?: Our 2-Year Experience at a Tertiary Health-Care Centre. Clin Ophthalmol. 2021;15:2993-2999doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S322378.
Gupta, S., Singh, P., Singh, M., Naik, M., & Srivastava, K. (2021). Is Interferon α-2b 1 MillionIU/mL Truly Better Than Tacrolimus 0.03% for Steroid-Resistant VKC ?: Our 2-Year Experience at a Tertiary Health-Care Centre. Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.), 152993-2999. https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S322378
Gupta, Sukriti, et al. "Is Interferon α-2b 1 MillionIU/mL Truly Better Than Tacrolimus 0.03% for Steroid-Resistant VKC ?: Our 2-Year Experience at a Tertiary Health-Care Centre." Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.) vol. 15 (2021): 2993-2999. doi: https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S322378
Gupta S, Singh P, Singh M, Naik M, Srivastava K. Is Interferon α-2b 1 MillionIU/mL Truly Better Than Tacrolimus 0.03% for Steroid-Resistant VKC ?: Our 2-Year Experience at a Tertiary Health-Care Centre. Clin Ophthalmol. 2021 Jul 14;15:2993-2999. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S322378. eCollection 2021. PMID: 34285466; PMCID: PMC8286782.
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Clin Ophthalmol. 2021 Jul 14;15:2993-2999. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S322378. eCollection 2021.

Is Interferon α-2b 1 MillionIU/mL Truly Better Than Tacrolimus 0.03% for Steroid-Resistant VKC ?: Our 2-Year Experience at a Tertiary Health-Care Centre.

Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.)

Sukriti Gupta, Priyanka Singh, Mrityunjay Singh, Mayuresh Naik, Kartikeya Srivastava

Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, V.M.M.C & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, 110029, India.
  2. Department of Ophthalmology, ESI Medical College and Hospital, Faridabad, Haryana, 121012, India.
  3. Department of Ophthalmology, H.I.M.S.R & H.A.H. Centenary Hospital, New Delhi, 110062, India.

PMID: 34285466 PMCID: PMC8286782 DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S322378

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of eye-drop interferon (IFN) α-2b 1 millionIU/mL with eye-ointment tacrolimus 0.03% in refractory vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with VKC refractory to conventional treatment with topical corticosteroids and antihistamines after 4 weeks of regular use were selected retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups depending on whether they received eye-ointment tacrolimus 0.03% three times a day or eye-drop IFN alpha-2b 1 millionIU/mL three times a day and were followed up for 24 months. The main outcome measures were total subjective symptom score (TSSS) and total objective ocular score (TOSS).

RESULTS: Mean baseline TSSS was 7.24±1.98 in Group A (tacrolimus group) and 7.84±1.82 in Group B (IFN group), and it reduced to 1.12±0.83 in Group A and 0.62±0.41 in Group B at 6 months, which was statistically significant compared to the baseline score (p<0.05) as well as between the two groups. Mean baseline TOSS was 6.72±2.07 in Group A and 6.56±2.04 in Group B, and it improved to 1 month onwards to 1.52±0.87 in Group A and 1.0±0.71 in Group B at 6 months, which was statistically significant compared to the baseline score (p<0.05) as well as between the two groups. Side effects like stinging and burning sensations were seen in the tacrolimus group only.

CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that while both eye-drop IFN α-2b 1 millionIU/mL and eye-ointment tacrolimus eye ointment 0.03% are both safe and effective steroid-sparing agents in steroid-resistant VKC. IFN α-2b results in greater improvement in subjective symptoms and objective signs, has fewer side effects in long term and is better tolerated as compared to tacrolimus.

© 2021 Gupta et al.

Keywords: VKC; interferon α-2b; refractory vernal keratoconjunctivitis; tacrolimus

Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

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