Thyroid Dysfunction and Autoimmunity Among Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Receiving Interferon-a Therapy
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- Category: Vol. 77, June 2009
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Thyroid Dysfunction and Autoimmunity Among Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Receiving Interferon-a Therapy,ALSAYED M. ALSALAMONY, WAEL A. SHAIN and ABDULHALIM A. ABDULHALIM
Abstract
Background /Aims: Thyroid dysfunction and autoimmunity are common manifestations of chronic hepatitis C infection, and have been reported during (IFN-a) therapy. However, the prevalence and pattern of thyroid disease following interferon-a therapy is relatively uncertain. This study aims to define the prevalence, pattern of thyroid dysfunction, thyroid autoim-munity and outcomes with Interferon-a therapy.
Methods: A prospective study was performed to assess thyroid function and autoimmunity in 40 chronic hepatitis C patients with normal baseline thyroid function were treated with interferon-a, at Alnoor Specialized Hospital, the tertiary level hospital of the Holy Makah, Saudi Arabia, between May 2007 and Jan. 2009.
Results: Pretreatment comparison with a control group of 30 healthy volunteer did not show significant differences in the frequency of thyroid dysfunction or anti-thyroid autoan-tibody positivity. During interferon-a treatment, the prevalence of thyroid dysfunction was (15.0%), and is made up predom-inantly of females (67%). There were 4 (10%) cases of hy-pothyroidism, 1 (2.5%) case with hyperthyroidism, and 1 (2.5%) case with biphasic presentation. The frequency of alteration of anti-thyroid autoantibodies was 8.5%. Two cases of hypothyroidism still required Thyroxin supplement at the end of follow-up.
Conclusion: Ninety-five percent of chronic hepatitis C treated patients have intact thyroid function at the end of treatment. The predominant thyroid dysfunction is hypothy-roidism. The predominant pattern of thyrotoxicosis is that of thyroiditis. Screening of thyroid gland function and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody titers in all patients with chronic hepatitis C before and during interferon-a therapy may be necessary.