Interferon treatment may trigger primary headaches in multiple sclerosis patients.
Recent data have suggested that interferon-beta (IFN-beta) may aggravate headaches in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the life-time prevalence of primary headaches in MS patients treated with interferons in comparison with patients treated with other disease-modifying agents. Attention was focused on the onset of headache and the changes in pre-existing headaches in relation to the onset of therapy. The study was open-labelled and not randomized. We studied 150 consecutive MS patients treated with IFN-beta (109 patients: 54 with 1b, 55 with 1a) and with other drugs (41 patients: 14 with glatiramer acetate, 27 with azathioprine). All patients underwent a semi-structured interview to diagnose headache type, according to the International Headache Society criteria. The frequency of primary headaches was higher in the interferon-group (72%) compared to patients in the other group (54%) (P=0.03). Worsening of pre-existing headaches or development of de novo headache occurred only in the interferon-group (41 and 48%, respectively) and not in the other group (P<0.001). These results show that headache should be considered among the side-effects of interferon in MS patients.
La Mantia
L
L
MS Center, C. Besta National Neurological Institute, Milan, 20133, Italy. msgroup@istituto-besta.it
D'Amico
D
D
Rigamonti
A
A
Mascoli
N
N
Bussone
G
G
Milanese
C
C
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020528:Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Progressive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015995:Prevalence
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010455:Peptides; D000068717:Glatiramer Acetate; D016899:Interferon-beta; D001379:Azathioprine