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Evidence summaries

Interferon Alfa for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Interferon alfa-2a appears not to be beneficial for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration and may even have harmful effects. Level of evidence: "B"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included one study with a total of 481 subjects. The odds ratio for losing three or more lines of vision at 52 weeks with interferon alfa-2a versus placebo was 1.60 (95% CI 1.01 to 2.53), i.e., interferon was associated with a 60% increased odds of decreased visual acuity (p=0.04).

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by imprecise results (one single study).

References

Primary/Secondary Keywords