الفهرس 
INTERFERON BASICSOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
belong to the large class of glycoproteins known
as cytokines. They are named after their ability to ”interfere” with
viral replication within the host cells. Typically they are divided
among three classes which are Type I IFN, Type II IFN and Type
III IFN. All of them are important for fighting viral infections.
Other functions also identified as immunomodulation,
antiproliferative and potent anti-tumor effect.
They are widely used in medical practice and FDA
approved in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, chronic hepatitis
B, multiple sclerosis, AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma,
condylomata acuminate and chronic granulomatous disease.
Ophthalmological uses are variable; Interferons are used
succefully in Behçet’s disease uveitis and it shows an impressive
effect in treatment of inflammatory macular edema . It is
considered as immunodulatory agent which is valuable in delaying
the progression of patients to definite multiple sclerosis , and
when they are combined with dextran they successfully target
choroidal neovascularization .
Regarding the external ocular disorders, the combination of
Interferon with antiviral drugs speeds up the epithelial healing in
herpes simplex virus keratitis and found to be effective treatment
for the HCV-associated mooren’s ulcer. A suggestive benefit for
Summary
111
oral and ocular symptoms of primary Sjögren’s syndrome was
obvious with interferon treatment.
Multiple neoplasms in ophthalmology can be now treated
with interferons. The encouraging results were obvius in treatment
of conjunctival papilloma, melanoma, lymphoma and conjunctival
intra-epithelial neoplasm.
Both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma
which are usually treated with destructive methods can be now
treated with interferons but with no tissue destruction. They are
effective in treatment of primary capillary hemangioma if
conjugated with cyclophosphamide.
The most frequent side effects are flu-like symptoms ,
injection site reaction and itching for topical use. Ocular adverse
effects which are known as interferon retinopathy include
cottonwool spots and retinal haemorrhages secondary to retinal
ischaemia which usually appear within 3 months of the onset of
therapy. Retinopathy may disappear spontaneously during therapy
or rapidly after stopping therapy.