title: Rhabdomyolysis following interferon-beta treatment in a patient with multiple sclerosis - A case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system for which there is currently no cure. Interferon-beta-1-alpha is worldwide one of the most widely used treatments in multiple sclerosis. To our knowledge there is one previous reported case of rhabdomyolysis associated with Interferon-beta treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe a 30 year old man with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis who developed rhabdomyolysis and increased creatine kinase following Interferon-beta-1-alpha therapy. After the medication was discontinued, the patient rapidly improved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of rhabdomyolysis occurring during Interferon-beta-1-alpha therapy. In cases where patients complain of severe myalgia, and in particular if weakness is reported, creatine kinase activity should be measured to prevent irreversible rhabdomyolysis during Interferon-beta-1-alpha therapy in patients with multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark. Electronic address: saramariad@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sara Maria
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dalbjerg
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark. Electronic address: ants@dadlnet.dk.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsakiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Glostrup Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Nordre Ringvej 57, 2600 Glostrup, Denmark. Electronic address: jette.lautrup.frederiksen.battistini@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Jette Lautrup
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Frederiksen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D000068556:Interferon beta-1a
keywords: Adverse effect; Interferon-beta treatment; Multiple sclerosis; Quality of life; Rhabdomyolysis