Journal of Multiple Sclerosis

Axonal Neuropathy in Multiple Sclerosis Patients Treated with Interferon ?

Salem Abdelhady and Hebatallah Rashed

Introduction: Peripheral neuropathy has been reported as a rare side effect of interferon α (INF α) but not with interferon β (IFN β) treatment.

Objectives: In the current study we aimed at studying the risk of occurrence of neuropathy as well as its pattern in a group of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients receiving IFN β.

Methods: We studied the clinical manifestations and electrophysiological pattern of peripheral neuropathy in two groups of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients group I involved 12 patients receiving interferon β and group II involved 28 patients receiving cytotoxic medications.

Results: We revealed electrophysiological abnormalities of nerve conduction suggesting axonal sensory-motor neuropathy in 7 patients (58.3%) out of 12 receiving INF β in contrast to only 5 patients (17.85%) out of 28 patients receiving cytotoxic medications. This was associated with minimal sensory symptoms.

Conclusion: Despite the protective effects of INF β against induced autoimmunity the administration of the drug may trigger auto immune phenomena in immunologically predisposed patients which may interfere with the biosynthetic process of neurons thus inducing dysfunction. We conclude that INF β may cause subclinical axonal neuropathy as a side effect due to autoimmunity.