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Nephrotic syndrome associated with interferon-β-1b therapy for multiple sclerosis

Clinical and Experimental Nephrology volume 10, pages 222–225 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

A 43-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis (MS) had nephrotic syndrome 21 months after starting treatment with interferon (IFN)-β-1b (subcutaneous administration). She had taken no drug except for the IFN-β-1b. Because nephrotic syndrome may be induced by IFN therapy, the IFN was stopped. Percutaneous renal biopsy revealed that she had minimal change nephrotic syndrome. As nephrotic-range proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and general edema were worsening even 2 weeks after cessation of the drug, oral corticosteroid therapy (prednisolone 40 mg/day) was started. The nephrotic syndrome was treated successfully with prednisolone. The dosage of prednisolone was tapered, without a relapse, and then the corticosteroid therapy was stopped. IFN-β-1b therapy was then resumed, and the patient is in remission for both nephrotic syndrome and MS. Though proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome is a rare adverse effect of IFN-β-1b therapy, physicians treating MS patients with this agent should pay careful attention to new clinical symptoms and laboratory findings.

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Affiliations

  1. The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hirosaki University School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8562, Japan

    Ryuichiro Kumasaka, Norio Nakamura, Kenichi Shirato, Takeshi Fujita, Reiichi Murakami, Michiko Shimada, Masayuki Nakamura, Hiroshi Osawa, Hideaki Yamabe & Ken Okumura

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  1. Ryuichiro Kumasaka
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  2. Norio Nakamura
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  3. Kenichi Shirato
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  4. Takeshi Fujita
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  5. Reiichi Murakami
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  6. Michiko Shimada
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  7. Masayuki Nakamura
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  8. Hiroshi Osawa
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  9. Hideaki Yamabe
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  10. Ken Okumura
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Correspondence to Ryuichiro Kumasaka.

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Kumasaka, R., Nakamura, N., Shirato, K. et al. Nephrotic syndrome associated with interferon-β-1b therapy for multiple sclerosis. Clin Exp Nephrol 10, 222–225 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-006-0424-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-006-0424-9

Key words

  • Interferon (IFN)-β-1b
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Nephrotic syndrome
  • Proteinuria