title: Patients with chronic hepatitis type C and interferon-alpha-induced hyperthyroidism in two-years clinical follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interferon-α (IFN-α) is a gold standard in the therapy of viral chronic hepatitis type C (CHC). However, such treatment might lead to thyroid dysfunction. Patients usually present hypothyroidism, but rarely also hyperthyroidism may develop. The aim of the study is to present two-year clinical follow-up of patients with CHC and IFN-α-induced hyperthyroidism (IIH), with special regard to the methods and efficacy of the therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 106 patients with CHC and IIH were analyzed. Subjects were divided into two groups according to etiology: group 1, with Graves' disease (GD) and group 2, with Hashitoxicosis (HT). The diagnosis of GD and HT was based on: clinical signs of hyperthyroidism, hormonal profile (TSH, fT4, fT3), level of thyroid autoantibodies (Tg-Abs, TPO-Abs, TSHRAbs). Treatment of hyperthyroidism was monitored by repeated clinical assessment and laboratory tests. RESULST: 28 patients (26 with GD of which 5 exhibited mild orbitopathy and 2 with HT) were treated with radioiodine [the average dose of was 17 mCi [668 MBq]. In adition 78 out of 80 patients with HT mostly β-blocker therapy was successful (transient hyperthyroidism). At the end of the observation period, in group 1 remission was achieved in 17 (65.4%) cases, 6 (23.1%) patients showed hypothyroidism and 3 (11.5%) presented recurrence of hyperthyroidism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most patients with IIH present Hashitoxicosis, while a minority of them develop Graves' disease. In a majority of patients with HT spontaneous remission of disease occurs. In patients with long-term hyperthyroidism, radioiodine therapy is an effective and well-tolerated.
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. agata.rat@wp.pl
authors: Agata
authors: A
authors: Czarnywojtek
authors: Magorzata
authors: M
authors: Zgorzalewicz-Stachowiak
authors: Ryszard
authors: R
authors: Wasko
authors: Rafal
authors: R
authors: Czepczynski
authors: Ewelina
authors: E
authors: Szczepanek-Parulska
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Waligorska-Stachura
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Kurdybacha
authors: Iwona
authors: I
authors: Bereszynska
authors: Ewa
authors: E
authors: Florek
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Stangierski
authors: Joanna
authors: J
authors: Zdanowska
authors: Elżbieta
authors: E
authors: Nikisch
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Sowinski
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Ruchala
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016898:Interferon-alpha; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes