Thyroid function outcomes after pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the frequency of new thyroid disease, in patients who did not develop thyroid disease during treatment with interferon-α in combination with ribavirin for hepatitis C, during the 6-month period after the end of therapy.


METHODS
A prospective study was performed in 190 patients who underwent a combination of interferon-α and ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C infection during the 36-month period between 2006 and 2008. Thyroid function tests were performed at the completion of treatment and at 4, 12, and 24 weeks of follow-up.


RESULTS
During the 6 months after the completion of interferon-α and ribavirin therapy in the 190 study patients with hepatitis C infection, there were 2 cases of thyroid disease. One patient had the typical biphasic thyroiditis, and the other had primary hypothyroidism. Thus, the prevalence of thyroid disease in this setting was 2 of 190 patients (1.0%).


CONCLUSIONS
The majority (99%) of patients had normal thyroid outcomes at 6-month follow-up. Only 1 patient had symptoms. This finding is reassuring and eliminates the need for ongoing thyroid surveillance during this time and probably longer. In the absence of symptoms, only a single thyroid-stimulating hormone measurement at 6-month review is recommended.
Tran
Huy A
HA
Division of Clinical Chemistry, Hunter Area Pathology Service, Newcastle, New South Wales 2310, Australia. huy.tran@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
Reeves
Glenn E M
GE
Ianna
Elizabeth A
EA
Leembruggen
Nadine
N
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013960:Thyroid Function Tests; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D012254:Ribavirin; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013974:Thyroxine