Amelioration of flulike symptoms at the onset of interferon beta-1b therapy in multiple sclerosis by low-dose oral steroids is related to a decrease in interleukin-6 induction

• Published in: Annals of neurology Vol. 44; no. 4; p. 682
• Main Authors: Martínez-Cáceres, E M, Río, J, Barrau, M, Durán, I, Borrás, C, Tintoré, M, Montalban, X
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.10.1998
• Subjects: Acetaminophen - administration & dosage; Acetaminophen - therapeutic use; Administration, Oral; Adult; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic - administration & dosage; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic - therapeutic use; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fever - metabolism; Glucocorticoids - administration & dosage; Glucocorticoids - therapeutic use; Humans; Influenza, Human - drug therapy; Influenza, Human - etiology; Influenza, Human - metabolism; Interferon beta-1a; Interferon beta-1b; Interferon-beta - adverse effects; Interferon-beta - therapeutic use; Interleukin-6 - antagonists & inhibitors; Interleukin-6 - biosynthesis; Middle Aged; Multiple Sclerosis - therapy; Prednisone - administration & dosage; Prednisone - therapeutic use
• DOI: 10.1002/ana.410440415
• ISSN: 0364-5134

Low-dose oral steroid use at the onset of interferon beta-1b (IFNbeta-1b) therapy in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RR-MS) patients reduces flulike symptoms. To determine the mechanism by which steroid treatment minimizes these side effects, we analyzed the percentage of interleukin-6 (IL-6)-, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-, and IL-10-producing cells before and after 3 months of IFNbeta-1b therapy onset. Our results support a relationship between IL-6 induction and fever. Such side effects can be ameliorated by steroids.