title: Dual benefit from intramuscular interferon-beta treatment in a patient with multiple sclerosis and chronic hepatitis-C virus infection.
abstract: In patients with hepatitis C virus infection interferon-beta therapy is most effective when administered by the intravenous route. However we would like to present a patient with multiple sclerosis and chronic hepatitis C virus infection who obtained dual benefit from intramuscular interferon-beta therapy. Intramuscular interferon-beta 1a (Avonex) 6 million U/week was started for prevention of attacks in a 32-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis. She had acquired hepatitis C virus infection from blood transfusion during a Caesarean section. Although serum transaminases were within normal limits anti-hepatitis C virus test by ELISA and hepatitis C virus RNA by polymerase chain reaction were positive. Liver biopsy revealed chronic persistent hepatitis. Considering the use of interferon-beta 1a for multiple sclerosis prophylaxis and the stage of hepatitis the patient was not offered any additional treatment. Repeat liver biopsy performed after one year showed the absence of previous findings. The patient has also cleared the hepatitis-C virus RNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kirikkale University, Turkey. fundauysaltan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Funda Uysal
authors.initials: FU
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Hülya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cetinkaya
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erden
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ulkatan
authors.forename: Nursel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aydin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016899:Interferon-beta