title: B-cell-activating factor affects the occurrence of thyroid autoimmunity in chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon alpha.
abstract: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients frequently suffer from thyroid disorders during interferon therapy. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the association between serum B-cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) levels and the presence of antithyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO) in CHC patients treated with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin combination therapy. Six months after the therapy, anti-TPO antibody was detected in 10 (males, 1; females, 9) of 50 patients. The mean age of these patients was higher than that of the anti-TPO-negative patients (61 yr versus 55 yr). Before treatment, the serum BAFF levels of the anti-TPO-positive patients were higher than those of the anti-TPO-negative patients. After starting therapy, the serum BAFF levels of both the anti-TPO-positive and -negative patient groups were elevated. Our findings suggest that the serum BAFF concentration before therapy can predict the risk of thyroid autoimmunity in elderly female patients with CHC.
authors.affiliation: Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Teikyo University Mizonokuchi Hospital, 3-8-3 Mizonokuchi, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa 213-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kajiyama
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosoya
authors.forename: Hiromi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoshino
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hino
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyakawa
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000187:drug effects; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012737:Sex Factors; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D015415:Biomarkers; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D009195:Peroxidase; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a