title: Interferon beta-1b-induced postmenopausal bleeding in a patient with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Postmenopausal bleeding must always be evaluated to rule out endometrial carcinoma, although there are many benign etiologies. There have been rare reports of premenopausal bleeding with interferon beta-1b, used to treat multiple sclerosis, but no prior reports in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature searches were performed using PubMed and Medline for articles with content related to premenopausal and postmenopausal bleeding while taking interferon beta-1b. The searches were restricted to the English language. Search terms included interferon beta-1b and/or uterine hemorrhage and/or vaginal bleeding and/or postmenopausal and/or menopause.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature review found no related articles for postmenopausal bleeding while taking interferon beta-1b. We present a case of a patient with postmenopausal bleeding attributed to elevation of serum estradiol in association with interferon beta-1b therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is important for patients and providers to be aware of the association between postmenopausal bleeding with the use of interferon beta-1b therapy which could be due to elevated serum estradiol levels.
authors.affiliation: a Departments of Obstetrics , Gynecology, and Women's Health, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School , Newark , NJ , USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Perlman
authors.affiliation: a Departments of Obstetrics , Gynecology, and Women's Health, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School , Newark , NJ , USA.|b Pathology & Laboratory Medicine , Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School , Newark , NJ , USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.affiliation: a Departments of Obstetrics , Gynecology, and Women's Health, Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School , Newark , NJ , USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cracchiolo
mesh_terms: D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000068576:Interferon beta-1b / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016239:MEDLINE; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood; D014592:Uterine Hemorrhage / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D000068576:Interferon beta-1b; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: Interferon-beta/adverse effects; Interferon-beta/therapeutic use; multiple sclerosis/drug therapy; postmenopausal bleeding