title: Arthritis and bursitis in multiple sclerosis patients treated with interferon-beta.
abstract: Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) is a type I interferon used in the management of multiple sclerosis. Therapy with IFN-beta has rarely been associated with the development of autoimmune disorders. We present the cases of two female patients diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) who developed inflammatory musculoskeletal manifestations, following IFN-beta therapy. The first patient developed a monoarthritis 2 weeks after initiation of IFN-beta, which persisted during the 14 months of therapy and resolved with discontinuation of the medication. The second patient developed both autoimmune thyroid disease and a refractory pre-patellar bursitis after 50 months of IFN-beta therapy. Our literature review revealed an additional six cases of onset of inflammatory arthritis in MS patients receiving IFN-beta. We review these reports with comparison to our two cases. The role of IFN-beta in inflammatory musculoskeletal disease is unclear. The potential autoimmune complications of this therapeutic agent should be comprehended when monitoring patients receiving such treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Strueby
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Taylor-Gjevre
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D002062:Bursitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000139:chemically induced; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a