title: Can pegylated interferon α 2a cause development of thyroid disorders in patients with chronic hepatitis B?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatitis B virus infection is treated with pegylated (Peg) IFNα and nucleos(t)ide analogues. The disadvantages of PegIFNα include thyroid disorders. In this single-center study, the type, incidence and consequences of thyroid dysfunction in patients receiving PegIFNα due to chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The analysis included 106 patients (80 males) with CHB, aged 20 - 58 years, treated with PegIFNα-2a at a dose of 180 μg/week subcutaneously for 48 weeks. The levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid antibodies (TAbs) that is anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibodies were measured in all patients at baseline. Furthermore, TSH was measured every 3 months during treatment and for 12 months after completion of treatment. If the TSH level was abnormal, free thyroxine 4 levels and TAbs were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients started the therapy with normal TSH and TAb levels. In 99 patients, TSH levels remained normal throughout the therapy. Thyroid disorder occurred in seven patients (6.6%), six of whom developed hypothyroidism and one who developed hyperthyroidism. Thyroid dysfunction was diagnosed in six women and one man. TAbs (only TPOAbs) were found in two patients (1.88%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thyroid disorder is a rare, though possible not transient, complication of IFN therapy in CHB patients.
authors.affiliation: Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology , ul. Św. Floriana 12, 85 030 Bydgoszcz , Poland +48 52 325 56 05 ; +48 52 345 71 95 ; d.kozielewicz@wsoz.pl.
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kozielewicz
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaleśna
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dybowska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D013972:Thyrotropin; D007453:Iodide Peroxidase; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a
keywords: anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies; chronic hepatitis B; pegylated IFN α; thyroid diseases