[Thyroid dysfunctions in patients with viral hepatitis treated with interferon-alpha].
BACKGROUND
Many studies have explored that thyroid dysfunctions can be induced by cytokine therapy. Most observations were collected in connection with the treatment of viral hepatitis with interferon-alpha.


OBJECTIVE
Frequency and types of thyroid dysfunction developed during and after recombinant interferon-alpha treatment were studied in 138 patients with viral hepatitis C or B. Therapy lasted 12 months or more, subjects having thyroid dysfunction at the start of therapy were excluded from the study. Thyroid parameters (TSH, FT4, FT3 and anti-TPO) were controlled every third month. In patients in whom thyroid dysfunction occurred the measurements were repeated monthly and other tests were also performed (anti-Tg, IL-6, TSH receptor antibody, thyroid scan and 99mTc-pertechnetate uptake).


RESULTS
Thyroid function disturbances were found in 30 (21.7%) patients, 12 of them (8.7%) showed persistent hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism was transitory in all cases. The clinical course of thyroid dysfunction might be monophasic (hyper- or hypothyroidism), biphasic (hyperthyroidism followed by hypofunction) or triphasic. Immune and non-immune forms can be clearly distinguished.


CONCLUSIONS
Every fifth patient with chronic hepatitis showed thyroid dysfunction during interferon-alpha therapy, it is necessary therefore to control the hormonal status and the thyroid antibody titer. Treated patients have to be informed in advance that as a "side effect" persistent hypothyroidism may develop.
Földes
Iván
I
BM Központi Kórház és Intézményei, Izotóp Osztály, Budapest.
Dávid
Károly
K
Horváth
Gábor
G
Osztrogonácz
Henrik
H
Jankovics
Katalin
K
Tolvaj
Gyula
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D013963:Thyroid Hormones