Liver injury associated with the beta-interferons for MS: a comparison between the three products.
A population-based retrospective chart review of the biochemical liver tests of 844 patients with multiple sclerosis prescribed a beta-interferon (IFNbeta) product in British Columbia, Canada was performed between 1995 and 2001. Overall, 36.9% (243/659) of patients developed new elevations of alanine aminotransferase. All the IFNbetas caused elevated aminotransferase levels compared with pretreatment levels (p < 0.005) and were higher than reported in clinical trials. Their relative effect on aminotransferases can be approximated as IFNbeta-1b(subcutaneous [SC]) = IFNbeta-1a(SC) > IFNbeta-1a(IM).
Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Vancouver Hospital & Health Sciences Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. tremlett@interchange.ubc.ca
Helen L
HL
Tremlett
Eric M
EM
Yoshida
Joel
J
Oger
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D056487:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D016899:Interferon-beta; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a