Hashimoto encephalopathy with pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin.
OBJECTIVE
To report an instance of Hashimoto encephalopathy probably resulting from pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin.


METHODS
A 36-year-old woman with a 10-year history of autoimmune thyroiditis presented with symptoms and signs consistent with Hashimoto encephalopathy during therapy with pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C.


CONCLUSIONS
Hashimoto encephalopathy is a rare autoimmune condition that occurs in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis and high titers of antithyroid antibodies. It is characterized by a variety of nonspecific neuropsychiatric symptoms, increased cerebrospinal fluid protein level, and abnormal brain imaging and electroencephalogram. Prompt response to corticosteroids is observed in most cases. As of August 29, 2005, this is the first report of such an association. An objective causality assessment revealed that the Hashimoto encephalopathy was probably caused by the patient's medications.


CONCLUSIONS
Hashimoto encephalopathy may rarely be triggered by interferon alfa therapy in susceptible patients.
Deutsch
Melanie
M
Academic Department of Internal Medicine, Hippocration General Hospital Athens, Greece. kostam@ath.forthnet.gr
Koskinas
John
J
Tzannos
Konstatinos
K
Vassilopoulos
Dimitrios
D
Mailis
Antonis
A
Tolis
George
G
Hadziyannis
Stephanos
S
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D050031:Hashimoto Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b