When Treatment Turns to Stone: Injection-Site Calcinosis Associated With Interferon-β in Multiple Sclerosis: A Case...

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Neurology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.
• Interferon-beta (IFN-β) is a common disease-modifying therapy for MS.
• Injection-site calcinosis is a rare but reported complication of IFN-β treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of injection-site calcinosis in a patient with multiple sclerosis.
• To discuss the potential mechanism of dystrophic calcinosis cutis.
• To highlight the importance of recognizing this complication in long-term IFN-β therapy.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 52-year-old woman with multiple sclerosis.
• Review of clinical presentation and imaging findings.
• Analysis of subcutaneous interferon-β-1b injection history.

Main Results:

• The patient developed stable bilateral gluteal calcifications.
• These findings were consistent with probable dystrophic calcinosis cutis.
• The condition was attributed to chronic, repeated injection-site trauma from subcutaneous interferon-β-1b therapy.

Conclusions:

• Injection-site calcinosis is a rare complication of interferon-beta therapy for multiple sclerosis.
• Dystrophic calcinosis cutis can develop secondary to chronic injection-site trauma.
• Awareness of this complication is important for managing patients on long-term interferon-beta treatment.