Retinopathy during interferon-β treatment for multiple sclerosis: case report and review of the literature

Lorenzo Gaetani, Paola S. Menduno, Francesco Cometa, Maria Di Gregorio, Paola Sarchielli, Carlo Cagini, Paolo Calabresi, Massimiliano Di Filippo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The onset of new visual symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis is often associated with a neuro-ophthalmologic manifestation of the disease. However, other possible differential diagnoses need to be ruled out, including drug-induced retinal side effects. Although uncommon, retinal side effects of interferon-beta formulations may occur, and need to be promptly recognized and treated by neurologists. In this manuscript, we report the case of a 37-year-old woman affected by multiple sclerosis diagnosed with interferon beta-associated retinopathy and we review the literature with regard to the epidemiology, clinical presentation, management and follow-up of interferon beta-associated retinopathy. Interferon-beta induced retinopathy seems to be an uncommon and a dose-related side effect in multiple sclerosis patients. Retinopathy tends to completely resolve after treatment discontinuation. Neurologists must be aware that immune-modulatory drugs, in particular interferon beta, have been reported to cause retinal side effects. In multiple sclerosis patients complaining of new visual symptoms during interferon-beta treatment, it is thus advisable to perform an ophthalmological assessment to rule out and properly manage retinopathy.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)422-427
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Neurology
Volume263
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Cotton wool spots
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Interferon beta
  • Interferon-beta
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Retinal Diseases
  • Retinal hemorrhages
  • Retinopathy

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