The effect of low-dose interferon treatment on visual evoked potentials

Patients suffering from chronic viral hepatitis, treated with interferon alpha-2b in a dose of 3 million units trice weekly subcutaneously, were studied. The influence of interferon on the optic nerve was evaluated by measuring the P100 implicit time of the visual evoked potentials. The results before the treatment were compared with those after 6 and 12 months of therapy, as well as with those of normal subjects. There were statistically significant differences between the groups. Furthermore, in 10 of 56 eyes (17.8%) after 6 months of treatment, and 8 of 22 eyes (36.3%) after 12 months of treatment, the P100 was abnormally delayed. The long term neurovisual effects of low-dose interferon are currently under investigation.