title: [Transient thyroid dysfunction during chronic viral hepatitis treated with alpha-interferon].
abstract: 2 patients with chronic viral hepatitis were treated with alpha-interferon and developed thyroid dysfunction. Both patients were previously euthyroid and had thyroids of normal size. 1 developed hypothyroidism (FT4 0.49 micrograms/dl; TSH 26.8 mIU/ml) and the other developed hyperthyroidism (FT4 2.72 micrograms/dl; T3 366 ng/ml; TSH 0.15 mIU/ml) 4 and 6 months, respectively, after commencing interferon. Interferon was discontinued, and thyroid function tests returned to normal within 1 and 2 months, respectively, and have remained normal for over a year. Antimicrosomal antibodies in the hypothyroid patient were positive (1:6400), but became negative after 4 months. No specific therapy for the thyroid disorders was given. These findings suggest that alpha-interferon induced transient thyroid dysfunction in patients who were previously euthyroid and were negative for thyroid autoantibodies.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrinology, Central Emek Hospital, Afula.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luboshitzky
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayash
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nussinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha