Epub: Lanzillo et al. Vitamin K cream reduces reactions at the injection site in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis treated with subcutaneous interferon beta - VIKING study. Mult Scler. 2015. pii: 1352458514562989.
Background: MS therapy with injectable drugs is still dogged by possible local side effects (injection site pain, burning, erythema and necrosis), with the danger of poor adherence and consequently low efficacy.
Aim: We designed a 16-week prospective, double cross-over interventional study with vitamin K cream in RRMSers already treated, or starting therapy, with subcutaneous interferon IFNβ1a (VIKING study) and presenting with burning and redness at the injection site.
Methods: We enrolled 123 subjects: 66 MSers began with vitamin K (group A) and 57 without (group B).
Results: In the period of treatment there was an average reduction in injection site reactions of of 3.2 mm (CI 95% = −5.6– −0.8) compared to the period without treatment (p = 0.01).
Conclusions: We believe that our results show a beneficial effect of local vitamin K application on IFN injection sites, with an absence of side effects.