title: An autoimmune aetiology for hypothyroidism following interferon therapy for breast cancer.
abstract: Alpha-interferon has been administered as an adjuvant treatment for women with loco-regional relapse of breast cancer. During the course of treatment 5/10 (50%) of women receiving interferon developed de novo thyroid autoantibodies. Three patients became clinically myxoedematous, with biochemical evidence of hypothyroidism which responded to thyroxine replacement therapy. The leucocyte alpha-interferon preparations used in the trial enhanced Class I but not Class II MHC antigens on thyrocytes in vitro. These data strongly suggest that patients receiving alpha-interferon therapy should be closely monitored for the possible development of thyroid dysfunction and that thyroid antibody determination can greatly help to predict overt thyroid clinical abnormalities.
authors: Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Guy's Hospital, London, U.K.
authors: I S
authors: IS
authors: Fentiman
authors: F R
authors: FR
authors: Balkwill
authors: B S
authors: BS
authors: Thomas
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Russell
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Todd
authors: G F
authors: GF
authors: Bottazzo
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000209:etiology*; D007372:Interferons / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007372:Interferons