Abstract
The effect of interferon-β1b (IFN-β) on human cerebral blood flow distribution was examined in five multiple sclerosis patients using functional brain single-photon emission tomography (SPECT). Of nine regions of interest studied, only the basal ganglia exhibited a significant change (increase) in relative photon emission intensity (i.e., relative blood flow) when comparing SPECT scans obtained 6 h after s.c. IFN-β injection with scans obtained at the same time of day (noon) 30 h after IFN-β injection (IFN-β-free day). The increase in relative blood flow to the basal ganglia following IFN-β injection correlated positively with changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP). Additional studies will be required to determine the relevance of these observations for IFN-β-induced central nervous system side effects.
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