Evidence map›Paper›PMID 16437522›Full record

SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2006

Antiangiogenic therapy with interferon alfa for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

U Reddy, M Kryzstolik

Open access · greenAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2006. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
10citing papers in PubMed, 6 pooled it
0.8field-weighted citation impact, top 26% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

10 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Interventions for age-related visual problems in patients with stroke.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2012
    Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Age related macular degeneration.BMJ clinical evidence · 2007
    Pooled it
  7. Evaluation of serum interferons in patients with age-related macular degeneration.Journal of research in medical sciences : the official journal of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences · 2019
    Article
  8. Article
  9. Article
  10. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

U ReddyBrown Medical School, Box G-8064, 593 Eddy Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. Usha_Reddy@brown.edu
M Kryzstolik
Providence College · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAntiangiogenic therapy is a new approach to the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Interferon alfa is one antiangiogenic agent thought to function by inhibiting the migration and proliferation of vascular endothelial cells. It has been used in the treatment of hepatitis, solid tumors and hematologic malignancies.

objectivesThe aim of this review was to investigate interferon alfa as a treatment modality for neovascular age-related macular degeneration. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched and identified trials from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), which contains the Cochrane Eyes and Vision Group Trials Register, in The Cochrane Library (Issue 2, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to 2005/06 week 1), EMBASE (1980 to 2005/week 23), LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Science Literature Database) (June 2005) and the reference lists of included studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: This review included randomized controlled trials evaluating interferon alfa therapy in people with neovascular age-related macular degeneration who were followed for at least one year. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Both review authors independently extracted data and assessed trial quality. No data synthesis was conducted as only one trial met the inclusion criteria. MAIN

resultsThe one included trial enrolled and randomized 481 participants from 45 centers worldwide into four groups. The study allowed for analysis of the number of participants who had lost three or more lines of vision at 52 weeks in three interferon alfa-2a groups versus placebo. The results show an odds ratio of 1.60 (95% Confidence Interval 1.01 to 2.53) indicating that interferon is associated with a 60% increased odds of losing three or more lines at 52 weeks. This finding is marginally statistical with a P value of 0.04 and indicates that the treatment has the potential for harm rather than benefit. AUTHORS'

conclusionsAt present there is not enough evidence to recommend the use of interferon alfa-2a for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

Indexed as

Angiogenesis InhibitorsHumansInterferon-alphaInterferon alpha-2Macular DegenerationRecombinant ProteinsVisual AcuityAngiogenesis InhibitorsInterferon-alphaInterferon alpha-2Recombinant Proteins

Identifiers

PMID16437522
PMCPMC12276864
OpenAlexW1495055821

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.