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Minelli et al., Parma, Italy and Worcester, MA, USA, reported results of
INF-ot therapy in 32 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Thyroid function
tests were done before and after 6 months of treatment or sooner. Eleven
patients showed changes in thyroid function and/or developed antibodies
against TPO or TSH receptor. Two patients developed thyrotoxicosis due
to thyroiditis and 2 due to autoimmune hyperthyroidism. One patient developed
hypothyroidism and 7 of the 11 patients showed impaired organification
of iodine.
A similar study was done in 101 Japanese patients (50 males) with chronic hepatitis C by Tsuboi et al., Tokyo, Japan. Seventy-five percent of patients developed goiter, similarly in males and females, 7 patients developed primary hypothyroidism and more than 50% of patients developed thyroid autoantibodies. Transient thyroid disorders were seen in 22 patients. (Comment: These studies show that INF-oc therapy in patients with hepatitis C may frequently aggravate or induce autoimmune thyroid disease.) |
