Psoriasis in Patients Treated with Interferon-Beta
Title: Activation of psoriasis in patients undergoing
treatment with interferon-beta
Authors: Navne JE, et al.
Publication: Ugeskr Laeger. 2005 Aug 8;167(32):2903-4.
Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition that is induced
and aggravated by both internal body conditions and other external
factors. Certain drugs have been associated with triggering psoriasis
as side effects:
- Lithium
- beta blockers (medications for heart, high blood pressure
and other conditions)
- NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin
or ibuprofen)
- ACE inhibitors (drugs used to treat high blood pressure and
heart failure)
- anti-malarial drugs
- interferon (glycoproteins produced by various cell types in
an immune system response that can prevent viral replications)
The authors presented 2 patients with multiple sclerosis who
had outbreaks of psoriasis when put on interferon-beta treatment.
One patients had psoriasis at the injection site that last 6 years
after the termination of the interferon treatement.
