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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Assessment of Neuroimmune Interactions in a Mini-Stroke Murine Model
Published on: June 20, 2025
Stroke after initiation of interferon-beta treatment for relapsing-remitting disseminated white matter disease
B Bosche1, C Dohmen, P Impekoven
1Department of Neurology, University of Cologne, Germany. bbosche@pet.mpin_koeln.mpg.de
Background:
Interferon-beta (INF-beta) is effective and used in reducing exacerbation frequency and disease progression in multiple sclerosis. In certain circumstances, INF-beta can lead to rare side effects.
Aims Of The Study:
We report the case of a 34-year-old female patient satisfying the McDonald criteria of multiple sclerosis without showing typical pathologic changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). After introduction of INF-beta treatment, she quickly developed further progression of her disseminated neurological symptoms and finally an ischemic cerebral infarction.
Methods:
Evaluation of the patient included arterial angiography, magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography, histopathological assessment as well as a broad spectrum of serum and CSF analysis.
Results:
All diagnostic evaluations and the clinical course revealed evidences for a primary angiitis of the CNS. We discuss the possible worsening due to inappropriate INF-beta treatment in cerebral angiitis promoting severe cerebrovascular insufficiency.
Conclusion:
The authors suggest that all diagnostic multiple sclerosis criteria including typical CSF findings should be ascertained before INF-beta treatment is initiated.