title: Subcutaneous interferon Beta-1a in pediatric multiple sclerosis: a retrospective study.
abstract: To expand current knowledge, we examined the safety and tolerability of subcutaneous interferon β-1a in patients with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis. Records from 307 patients who had received at least 1 injection of subcutaneous interferon β-1a for demyelinating events when aged younger than 18 years were reviewed. Overall, 168 (54.7%) patients had at least 1 prespecified medical event related to or under close monitoring with subcutaneous interferon β-1a or specific to pediatric patients, 184 (59.9%) had nonserious medical events related to treatment or of unknown causality, and 12 (3.9%) had serious medical events irrespective of causality. The most common laboratory abnormalities were increased alanine (74/195; 37.9%) and aspartate aminotransferase levels (59/194; 30.4%). Annualized relapse rates were 1.79 before treatment and 0.47 during treatment. In conclusion, adult doses of subcutaneous interferon β-1a (44 and 22 μg, 3 times weekly) were well tolerated in pediatric patients and were associated with reduced relapse rates.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Pediatría S.A.M.I.C. Prof Juan P Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina. silviatenembaum@gmail.com
authors.forename: Silvia N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Tenembaum
authors.forename: Brenda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Banwell
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.forename: Lauren B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Krupp
authors.forename: Alexey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boyko
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meinel
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lehr
authors.forename: Sanda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rocak
authors.forename: Elisabetta Verdun di
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Cantogno
authors.forename: Margaretha Stam
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Moraga
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghezzi
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a; D016899:Interferon-beta / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007391:International Cooperation; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016899:Interferon-beta; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a
keywords: interferon-β; multiple sclerosis; safety