BACKGROUND: The relationship between multiple sclerosis (MS) and headache (HA) is not well known. It was reported that interferon-beta (IFNβ) could induce or worsen HA. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of IFNβ treatment on HA and the relationship between HA and the various commercial preparations of IFNβ in mildly disabled patients with MS. METHODS: A specific questionnaire was administered to 357 relapsing-remitting MS patients. Characteristics of HAs were considered, including the temporal relationships with IFNβ administration. RESULTS: One hundred and seventeen patients were treated with weekly intramuscular injections of interferon IFNβ-1a (Avonex(®)), 84 with subcutaneous injections of IFNβ-1b (Betaferon(®)) every other day, 48 and 108 with three times weekly subcutaneous injections of IFNβ-1a (Rebif(®)) 22 mcg or IFNβ-1a (Rebif(®)) 44 mcg, respectively. Three hundred and fourteen patients were affected by HA, and among them, 219 patients suffered of pre-existing HA. In this latter group, 121 subjects (55%) noted a worsening of their HA after starting IFNβ therapy; this was more frequently reported by patients treated with Avonex(®) and Rebif(®) 44. Ninety-five patients experienced new HA. CONCLUSION: IFNβ treatment could worsen HA in patients with pre-existing HA or cause the appearance of new HA. Among different IFNβ preparations, Rebif(®) 44 and Avonex(®) seemed to be more cephalalgic than the other drugs.
BACKGROUND: The relationship between multiple sclerosis (MS) and headache (HA) is not well known. It was reported that interferon-beta (IFNβ) could induce or worsen HA. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of IFNβ treatment on HA and the relationship between HA and the various commercial preparations of IFNβ in mildly disabled patients with MS. METHODS: A specific questionnaire was administered to 357 relapsing-remitting MS patients. Characteristics of HAs were considered, including the temporal relationships with IFNβ administration. RESULTS: One hundred and seventeen patients were treated with weekly intramuscular injections of interferon IFNβ-1a (Avonex(®)), 84 with subcutaneous injections of IFNβ-1b (Betaferon(®)) every other day, 48 and 108 with three times weekly subcutaneous injections of IFNβ-1a (Rebif(®)) 22 mcg or IFNβ-1a (Rebif(®)) 44 mcg, respectively. Three hundred and fourteen patients were affected by HA, and among them, 219 patients suffered of pre-existing HA. In this latter group, 121 subjects (55%) noted a worsening of their HA after starting IFNβ therapy; this was more frequently reported by patients treated with Avonex(®) and Rebif(®) 44. Ninety-five patients experienced new HA. CONCLUSION: IFNβ treatment could worsen HA in patients with pre-existing HA or cause the appearance of new HA. Among different IFNβ preparations, Rebif(®) 44 and Avonex(®) seemed to be more cephalalgic than the other drugs.
Authors: Lara Marie Pangan Lo; Bruce V Taylor; Tania Winzenberg; Andrew J Palmer; Leigh Blizzard; Ingrid van der Mei Journal: J Neurol Date: 2020-09-03 Impact factor: 4.849
Authors: Ruth Ann Marrie; Scott B Patten; Helen Tremlett; Christina Wolfson; Sharon Warren; Lawrence W Svenson; Nathalie Jette; John Fisk Journal: Neurology Date: 2016-03-09 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Ruth Ann Marrie; Aaron Miller; Maria Pia Sormani; Alan Thompson; Emmanuelle Waubant; Maria Trojano; Paul O'Connor; Stephen Reingold; Jeffrey A Cohen Journal: Neurology Date: 2016-02-17 Impact factor: 9.910
Authors: Alaa Elmazny; Sherif M Hamdy; Maged Abdel-Naseer; Nevin M Shalaby; Hatem S Shehata; Nirmeen A Kishk; Mona A Nada; Husam S Mourad; Mohamed I Hegazy; Ahmed Abdelalim; Sandra M Ahmed; Ghada Hatem; Amr M Fouad; Hadel Mahmoud; Amr Hassan Journal: J Pain Res Date: 2020-03-11 Impact factor: 3.133