Pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with interferon beta treatment for multiple sclerosis: a case report

Mult Scler. 2009 Jul;15(7):885-6. doi: 10.1177/1352458509104593. Epub 2009 May 22.

Abstract

A 23-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis developed respiratory symptoms 3 years after introduction of interferon beta-1b. The diagnosis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) was established. The patient partially responded to sildenafil and bosetan treatment. This is the first report of PAH, associated with interferon beta therapy. As shown in experimental models, interferon treatment can induce PAH by stimulation of thromboxane cascade and secretion of various inflammatory mediators.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bosentan
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Hemodynamics / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / chemically induced*
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / drug therapy
  • Hypertension, Pulmonary / physiopathology
  • Immunologic Factors / adverse effects*
  • Interferon beta-1b
  • Interferon-beta / adverse effects*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy*
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use
  • Pulmonary Artery / drug effects*
  • Pulmonary Artery / physiopathology
  • Purines / therapeutic use
  • Sildenafil Citrate
  • Sulfonamides / therapeutic use
  • Sulfones / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Piperazines
  • Purines
  • Sulfonamides
  • Sulfones
  • Interferon beta-1b
  • Interferon-beta
  • Sildenafil Citrate
  • Bosentan