An autoimmune aetiology for hypothyroidism following interferon therapy for breast cancer.
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.
Fentiman
I S
IS
Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Guy's Hospital, London, U.K.
Balkwill
F R
FR
Thomas
B S
BS
Russell
M J
MJ
Todd
I
I
Bottazzo
G F
GF
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
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007372:Interferons