Thyroid disorders during interferon alpha therapy in 625 patients with chronic hepatitis C: a prospective cohort study.
OBJECTIVE
to report the prevalence, risk factors, management and long-term outcome of thyroid disorders caused by INFalpha in patients with chronic hepatitis C.


METHODS
From January 1991 to December 2004, 625 patients with chronic hepatitis C underwent INFalpha therapy. TSH assay was normal and antithyroperoxidase antibodies (anti-TPO) was performed before onset antiviral treatment; then TSH was performed every 2 months in all patients during therapy, and every 3 months after treatment.


RESULTS
58 patients developed thyroid disorder (8.9%). Mean age was 50.6+/-13 years; sex ratio: 1 M/2 F; the anti-TPO antibodies were positive before onset antiviral treatment in 9 patients (13.8%). 26 patients developed hypothyroidism (44.8%), 9 patients developed hyperthyroidism (15.5%) and among them 3 cases of Grave's disease. Biphasic thyroiditis occurred in 21 patients (36.2%), anti-TPO increase during treatment in 2 patients (3.5%) without hypothyroidism. The dysthyroidism was more frequent in risk in female gender (p<0.05) and in the group with positive antiTPO antibodies before treatment (p<0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Female gender and positive antiTPO antibodies are the predictive factors of development of the thyroid dysfunction during INFalpha therapy.
Kabbaj
N
N
Hepato-Gastro-Enterology E, Ibn Sina Hospital, 4 lotissement Anne-Marie, avenue Bir Kacem, rue Ouled Farés-Souissi, Rabat, Morocco. kabbaj_n@yahoo.fr
Guedira
M M
MM
El Atmani
H
H
El Alaoui
M
M
Mohammadi
M
M
Benabed
K
K
Lachkar
H
H
Benaïssa
A
A
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000276:immunology; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D013972:Thyrotropin