The influence of hepatitis C infection and interferon-alpha therapy on thyrotropin blocking and stimulating autoantibodies in Graves' ophthalmopathy: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis C virus is a highly immunogenic pathogen often inducing autoimmune activation changes and this can often be further exacerbated by Interferon therapy. As HCV is lymphocytotropic, it can modulate T cell and B cell antibody responses, affecting many endocrine organs, most commonly the thyroid.


METHODS
We hereby describe a case of fluctuating and wavering thyrotropin autoantibodies of both stimulating and blocking nature in the setting of Graves's ophthalmopathy, hepatitis C infection and interferon-alpha, causing hypo- and subsequently hyper-thyroidism. The autoantibody profile was clearly modified during interferon therapy and settled into a new equilibrium at the completion of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The case highlights the possible existence of a dual thyroid autoantibody population associated with hepatitis C, and its modulation by interferon therapy, which further compounds the difficulties in the assessment thyroid disease in this setting.
Tran
Huy A
HA
Department of Clinical Chemistry and University of Newcastle, Locked Bag 1, Hunter Region Mail Centre, Newcastle, New South Wales 2310, Australia. huy.tran@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
Reeves
Glenn Em
GE