Long-term treatment with interferon-beta therapy for multiple sclerosis and occurrence of Graves' disease.
Interferon (IFN)-beta has become a widespread therapy for multiple sclerosis. As already reported for IFN-alpha, thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunctions have been observed also in course of IFN-beta therapy. Nevertheless, very few cases of Graves' disease, occurred in such condition, have been reported in literature. We here describe the case of a 40-year-old female affected by multiple sclerosis, who received IFN-beta-1b, 8 million IU s.c. every other day for her condition. After 22 months of cytokine administration, she developed a severe Graves' disease with persistently positive TR-Ab which suggested the withdrawal of the treatment. Our patient had performed a complete thyroid evaluation with normal findings, before and during the first 6 months of therapy. This case suggests that patients undergoing long-term IFN-beta therapy should be monitored for thyroid hormones and antibodies throughout the treatment as thyroidal side effect can be a late event.
Rotondi
M
M
Istituti di Endocrinologia, II Università di Napoli, Italy.
Mazziotti
G
G
Biondi
B
B
Manganella
G
G
Del Buono
A D
AD
Montella
P
P
di Cristofaro
M
M
Di Iorio
G
G
Amato
G
G
Carella
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D001323:Autoantibodies; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D013974:Thyroxine; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a