IFNβ-1b may severely exacerbate Japanese optic-spinal MS in neuromyelitis optica spectrum

• DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181f8832e
• Publication Date: 2010-09-09T02:31:20Z
• Authors: J. Shimizu; Y. Hatanaka; M. Hasegawa; A. Iwata; I. Sugimoto; H. Date; J. Goto; T. Shimizu; M. Takatsu; Y. Sakurai; H. Nakase; Y. Uesaka; H. Hashida; K. Hashimoto; T. Komiya; S. Tsuji
• Keywords: Neuromyelitis Optica; Medical record

Interferon-β-1b (IFNβ-1b) has been used to prevent exacerbation of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) including optic-spinal (OSMS) in Japan. We encountered 2 patients with OSMS unexpectedly severe soon after the initiation IFNβ-1b therapy. The experience urged us retrospectively review RRMS who had treated identify similar cases.At neurologic departments 9 hospitals, medical records 56 were reviewed those showed therapy.Of RRMS, we identified 7 experienced (exacerbation increased scores Expanded Disability Status Scale ≧7.0) within 90 days In all patients, exacerbations therapy more than by individual before use IFNβ-1b, and seemed have occurred a short time INFβ-1b A retrospective analysis revealed that antibodies toward aquaporin 4, clinical features consistent neuromyelitis optica (NMO) spectrum.Our study suggests may trigger NMO spectrum. therapy, cases spectrum should be carefully excluded.