Tumefactive multiple sclerosis and hepatitis C virus 2a/2C infection: Dual benefit of long-term interferon beta-1a therapy?

Co-existence of tumefactive MS and hepatitis C: A need for further screening and new therapeutic challenge

“…The patient also tested positive for hepatitis C (HCV). After treatment with interferon beta-1a for 12 months, the patient appeared to be in remission, and three years following the initial diagnosis, she tested non-reactive for HCV despite not receiving any focused treatments [6].…”

“…The cause or what triggers the first demyelinating event in MS remains unrecognized and many MS researchers have hypothesized that an initial infection or past exposure to certain infective agents such as common viruses eventually triggers the unstoppable immune response in pathophysiology of MS. The authors of this interesting case have done an excellent job describing an unusual case of tumefactive MS in a patient who also tested seropositive for hepatitis C. Tumefactive MS is defined as the presence of atypical white matter lesions closely resembling tumors or abscesses, which are oval-shaped, well-circumscribed, and ring-enhancing [1,6]. These lesions usually are single and uncommonly multiple.…”