Interferon-alpha induced transient thyroid dysfunction in hepatitis C.
We report the case of thyroid dysfunction that developed in a 36-year-old female patient who required combination therapy with interferon and ribavirine for chronic hepatitis C. Firstly, she suffered a hyperthyroidism followed by a hypothyroidism stage requiring thyroxine replacement therapy. Nevertheless, combination treatment was not discontinued, reaching a sustained biochemical and virological response. The pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases in patients with Hepatitis C virus infection and interferon therapy is not clear, but usually these disorders are reversible and only require supervision and treatment if clinical or laboratory abnormalities are present.
Fernández-Díez
S
S
Gastroenterology Unit, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain. sfernandezd@medynet.com
Rodríguez-Agulló
J L
JL
Cascudo Rielo
M J
MJ
Navarro Angulo
N
N
Díaz-Rubio
M
M
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins