Case of type 1 diabetes mellitus following interferon β-1a treatment for multiple sclerosis

Intern Med. 2012;51(14):1875-7. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.51.7609. Epub 2012 Jul 15.

Abstract

A 57-year-old woman who had been treated with interferon β-1a (IFNβ-1a) for multiple sclerosis was diagnosed with diabetic ketosis. Her fasting serum C-peptide (F-CPR) was 1.9 ng/mL and her daily urinary C-peptide (U-CPR) was 24.1 µg/day. Her anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibody was 3.5 U/mL. Seven months later, she was hospitalized with body weight loss and a high level of hemoglobin A1c [11.1% (JDS)]. Her F-CPR and U-CPR were very low (0.1 ng/mL and 8.35 µg/day, respectively), and anti-GAD antibody became distinctly positive (12.4 U/mL). She had HLA-DRB1*04:05, A24, and B54. For these reasons, IFNβ-1a administration was considered a possible cause of type 1 diabetes mellitus in this case.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • C-Peptide / blood
  • C-Peptide / urine
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / etiology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / immunology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / metabolism
  • Female
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase / immunology
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / metabolism
  • HLA Antigens
  • Humans
  • Interferon beta-1a
  • Interferon-beta / adverse effects*
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / drug therapy*
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / immunology
  • Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / metabolism

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • C-Peptide
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • HLA Antigens
  • hemoglobin A1c protein, human
  • Interferon-beta
  • Glutamate Decarboxylase
  • Interferon beta-1a