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Updated: May 11, 2026
08:04
Development of an IFN-γ ELISpot Assay to Assess Varicella-Zoster Virus-specific Cell-mediated Immunity Following Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation
Published on: July 9, 2014
Subcutaneous interferon Beta-1a in pediatric multiple sclerosis: a retrospective study.
Silvia N Tenembaum1, Brenda Banwell, Daniela Pohl
1Hospital de Pediatría S.A.M.I.C. Prof Juan P Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina. silviatenembaum@gmail.com
Journal of Child Neurology
|May 14, 2013
Summary
Subcutaneous interferon beta-1a, administered in adult doses, was safe and well-tolerated in children with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis, significantly reducing relapse rates.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Immunology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (MS) presents unique challenges in treatment and management.
- Interferon beta-1a is a common treatment for MS, but its use in pediatric populations requires specific safety and efficacy evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety and tolerability of subcutaneous interferon beta-1a in patients with pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis.
- To evaluate the impact of subcutaneous interferon beta-1a on relapse rates in this patient group.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records from 307 pediatric patients (<18 years) treated with subcutaneous interferon beta-1a.
- Analysis of medical events, laboratory abnormalities, and annualized relapse rates before and during treatment.
Main Results:
- Over half of patients (54.7%) experienced medical events requiring monitoring; 59.9% had non-serious events, and 3.9% had serious events.
- Common laboratory abnormalities included elevated alanine aminotransferase (37.9%) and aspartate aminotransferase (30.4%).
- Annualized relapse rates decreased from 1.79 pre-treatment to 0.47 during treatment.
Conclusions:
- Adult doses of subcutaneous interferon beta-1a (22 and 44 μg, thrice weekly) are well-tolerated in pediatric patients with MS.
- Treatment with subcutaneous interferon beta-1a is associated with a significant reduction in relapse rates for pediatric MS patients.
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