title: Clinical Value of Thyrotropin Receptor Antibodies for the Differential Diagnosis of Interferon Induced Thyroiditis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The clinical value of thyrotropin receptor antibodies for the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis induced by pegylated interferon-alpha remains unknown. We analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of thyrotropin receptor antibodies in the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) receiving pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of 274 patients with CHC receiving pegylated interferon-alpha plus ribavirin. Interferon-induced thyrotoxicosis was classified according to clinical guidelines as Graves disease, autoimmune and non- autoimmune destructive thyroiditis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  48 (17.5%) patients developed hypothyroidism, 17 (6.2%) thyrotoxicosis (6 non- autoimmune destructive thyroiditis, 8 autoimmune destructive thyroiditis and 3 Graves disease) and 22 "de novo" thyrotropin receptor antibodies (all Graves disease, 2 of the 8 autoimmune destructive thyroiditis and 17 with normal thyroid function). The sensitivity and specificity of thyrotropin receptor antibodies for Graves disease diagnosis in patients with thyrotoxicosis were 100 and 85%, respectively. Patients with destructive thyroiditis developed hypothyroidism in 87.5% of autoimmune cases and in none of those with a non- autoimmune etiology (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thyrotropin receptor antibodies determination cannot replace thyroid scintigraphy for the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis in CHC patients treated with pegylated interferon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital del Mar.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Benaiges
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garcia-Retortillo
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital del Mar.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cañete
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Broquetas
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puigvehi
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital del Mar.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chillarón
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital del Mar.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Flores-Le Roux
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital del Mar.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sagarra
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cabrero
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zaffalon
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Solà
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital del Mar.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pedro-Botet
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Carrión
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a