Liver injury associated with the beta-interferons for MS: a comparison between the three products

Neurology. 2004 Feb 24;62(4):628-31. doi: 10.1212/wnl.62.4.628.

Abstract

A population-based retrospective chart review of the biochemical liver tests of 844 patients with multiple sclerosis prescribed a beta-interferon (IFNbeta) product in British Columbia, Canada was performed between 1995 and 2001. Overall, 36.9% (243/659) of patients developed new elevations of alanine aminotransferase. All the IFNbetas caused elevated aminotransferase levels compared with pretreatment levels (p < 0.005) and were higher than reported in clinical trials. Their relative effect on aminotransferases can be approximated as IFNbeta-1b(subcutaneous [SC]) = IFNbeta-1a(SC) > IFNbeta-1a(IM).

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Biomarkers
  • British Columbia / epidemiology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury, Chronic / etiology*
  • Drug Monitoring
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intramuscular
  • Injections, Subcutaneous
  • Interferon beta-1a
  • Interferon beta-1b
  • Interferon-beta / administration & dosage
  • Interferon-beta / adverse effects*
  • Interferon-beta / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Interferon beta-1b
  • Interferon-beta
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Interferon beta-1a