Adverse events during the titration phase of interferon-beta in remitting-relapsing multiple sclerosis are not predicted by body mass index nor by pharmacodynamic biomarkers

Abstract

Abstract Background This study aimed to correlate body mass index or biomarkers with the frequency of common adverse events (AEs) with subcutaneous IFN β-1a during treatment titration in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis previously naïve to IFN β. Methods Eighty-four patients (66.3% females) were followed up during 8 weeks, 25.3% were overweight and 14.5% were obese. Results Biomarkers steadily increased during all study period by 45.3% for β2-microglobulin, 262.8% for olygoadenylate synthetase-1, and 92.8% for neopterin. Overall AE reporting did not vary with the dose or treatment duration. Conclusions BMI was not predictive of increased risk for AEs. Biomarkers did not discriminate on the frequency of any AE either.