Characteristics associated with drug-induced liver injury from interferon beta in multiple sclerosis patients

• Objective: To identify and characterize drug-induced liver injury (DILI) associated with IFN-beta in multiple sclerosis (MS) using recommended criteria. Methods: This retrospective, mixed methods design included a cohort of IFN-beta exposed MS patients from British Columbia (BC), Canada and a series of DILI cases from other Canadian provinces and two adverse drug reaction (ADR) networks (USA and Sweden). Associations between sex, age and IFN-beta product, and DILI were explored in BC cohort using Cox proportional hazard analyses. Characteristics, including the time to DILI, were compared between sites. Results: In BC, 18/942 (1.9%) of IFN-beta exposed MS patients met criteria for DILI, with a trend toward an increased risk for women and those exposed to IFN-beta-1a SC (44 mcg 3 x weekly) (adjusted Hazard Ratios: 3.15; 95% CI: 0.72 - 13.72, p = 0.13 and 6.26; 95% CI: 0.78 - 50.39, p = 0.08, respectively). Twenty-four additional cases were identified from other sites; the median time to DILI was comparable between BC and other Canadian cases (105 and 90 days, respectively), but longer for the ADR network cases (590 days, p = 0.006). Conclusions: Approximately 1 in 50 IFN-beta exposed patients developed DILI in BC, Canada. Identification of DILI cases from diverse sources highlighted that this reaction occurs even after years of exposure.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Farmakologi och toxikologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Pharmacology and Toxicology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Farmaceutiska vetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Pharmaceutical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

adverse drug reactions

drug-induced liver injury

IFN-beta

multiple sclerosis

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