Graves' hyperthyroidism following transient thyrotoxicosis during interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis type C.
We report a case of Graves' hyperthyroidism induced by long-term interferon (IFN) therapy. A 52-year-old woman suffered from chronic active hepatitis type C and was treated with a total of 456 x 10(6) units of IFN-alpha for 23 weeks. During the 12th week of treatment she showed transient thyrotoxicosis. One week after the termination of IFN therapy, TSH-receptor antibodies became positive and subsequently she showed Graves' hyperthyroidism. This case showed sequential manifestation from transient thyrotoxicosis to the appearance of TSH-receptor autoantibodies, and then the occurrence of Graves' hyperthyroidism during IFN therapy. The course of this case may be useful in the understanding of the pathogenesis of autoimmune hyperthyroidism.
Koizumi
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Kin-ikyo Sapporo Kitaku Hospital.
Mashio
Y
Y
Mizuo
H
H
Matsuda
A
A
Matsuya
K
K
Mizumoto
H
H
Ikota
A
A
Beniko
M
M
Iriuda
Y
Y
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000276:immunology; D013971:Thyrotoxicosis / Q000150:complications*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin