The natural history of interferon-alpha induced thyroiditis in chronic hepatitis C patients: A long term study

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The natural history of interferon-alpha induced thyroiditis in chronic hepatitis

C patients: A long term study

Autoimmune thyroid disease is a common complication of patients with chronic

hepatitis C undergoing combination pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin

treatment. A small proportion develops interferon-induced thyroiditis of which

the long term natural history is unknown and how it compares with de novo

thyroiditis.

The aim of the study is to determine the natural history of thyroid disease

including antibody profile in this particular setting 36 months from the

completion of therapy.

Methods: A cohort of 18 hepatitis C patients (mean age 45 +/- 8 years (standard

deviation)) who developed exclusively thyroiditis in this setting was followed

every 12 months after the completion of therapy for 36 months. Investigations

included thyrotropin, free tetra-iodothyronine, free tri-iodothyronine levels

and thyroid autoantibodies.

Results: None of the patients developed any long term thyroid disease.

Two patients had a prolonged hypothyroid phase of the thyroiditis early after

the completion of treatment but recovered fully. The remaining 16 patients

remained euthyroid.

Similarly, thyroid autoantibodies all declined and returned to reference range.

Conclusions: The long term natural history in this small series of interferon

induced thyroiditis was benign. If a larger series confirms a similar outcome

then there is no long term residual effect on thyroid function and follow-up

testing would not be warranted.

Author: Huy TranTracey IannaGlenn Reeves

Credits/Source: Thyroid Research 2011, 4:2

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