Long-term treatment with interferon-beta therapy for multiple sclerosis and occurrence of Graves' disease

Interferon (IFN)-beta has become a widespread therapy for multiple sclerosi s. As already reported for IFN-alpha, thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunctions have been observed also in course of IFN-beta therapy. Nevertheless, very few cases of Graves' disease, occurred in such condition, have been reporte d in literature. We here describe the case of a 40-year-old female affected by multiple sclerosis, who received IFN-beta-1b, 8 million IU sc every oth er day for her condition. After 22 months of cytokine administration, she d eveloped a severe Graves' disease with persistently positive TRAb which sug gested the withdrawal of the treatment. Our patient had performed a complet e thyroid evaluation with normal findings, before and during the first 6 mo nths of therapy. This case suggests that patients undergoing long-term IFN- beta therapy should be monitored for thyroid hormones and antibodies throug hout the treatment as thyroidal side effect can be a late event. (C) 2000. Editrice Kurtis.