title: Unique side effects of interferon.
abstract: Interferon-alpha, a potent mediator of host immune response, has immunomodulatory properties in addition to its antiviral effects. A wide spectrum of autoimmune diseases can occur in patients treated with interferon-alpha for chronic hepatitis B and D, of which clinical systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) accounts for less than 1% and hypothyroidism for 2-4 %. We report herein a case of a 16-year-old male who developed antinuclear antibody (ANA)-negative SLE and hypothyroidism after treatment with interferon-alpha for chronic hepatitis. High index of suspicion is therefore necessary in all patients treated with interferon for early diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
authors.forename: Hina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aslam
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
authors.forename: Rashid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Qadeer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
authors.forename: Syed Mohammad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kashif
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rehan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi.
authors.forename: Salahuddin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Afsar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019701:Hepatitis D, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha
keywords: Systemic lupus erythematosus, Hypothyroidism, Interferons, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis D.