Development of arthritis and hypothyroidism during alpha-interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
Alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) therapy may induce, reveal or exacerbate various autoimmune-related disorders. The most common is the development of autoantibodies, while clinically overt autoimmune diseases are rare. We describe a 49-year-old woman who developed seronegative rheumatoid-like arthritis and autoimmune hypothyroidism after 7 months of human lymphoblastoid alpha-IFN therapy given for hepatitis C virus-related chronic active hepatitis (CAH-HCV). There was no family or personal history of autoimmune, thyroid or articular diseases. Our patient required continuous therapy for arthritis and hypothyroidism despite discontinuation of alpha-IFN. This suggests that alpha-IFN therapy may induce the contemporary appearance of two different persistent autoimmune-related diseases in the same patient. However, chronic HCV infection may play an important adjuvant role in the development of these diseases.
Pittau
E
E
I Cattedra di Reumatologia, Policlinico Universitario di Cagliari, Italy.
Bogliolo
A
A
Tinti
A
A
Mela
Q
Q
Ibba
G
G
Salis
G
G
Perpignano
G
G
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000276:immunology; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D013954:Thyroglobulin