Thyroid Function Outcomes Following Pegylated Interferon-alpha And Ribavirin Therapy For Chronic Hepatitis C

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Thyroid Function Outcomes Following Pegylated Interferon-alpha And Ribavirin Therapy For Chronic Hepatitis C

Abstract

Objective: Interferon-alpha in combination with ribavirin has been well documented to cause thyroid diseases, particularly thyroiditis whilst undergoing therapy. It remains unknown if the effects on thyroid tissues extend beyond the completion of therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of new thyroid disease in patient, who did not develop thyroid disease during treatment for hepatitis C, in the 6 months after the end of therapy.Methods: A prospective study was performed in 190 patients who underwent combination of interferon-alpha and ribavirin therapy for hepatitis C infection over a 36-month period between 2006 and 2008. Thyroid function tests were performed at the completion of treatment, 4, 12 and 24 weeks of follow-ups.Results: One hundred and ninety patients had satisfactory thyroid outcomes at 6 months after the completion of therapy. There were 2 cases of thyroid disease: one was the typical bi-phasic thyroiditis and the

other primary hypothyroidism. The prevalence of thyroid disease in this setting is 2/190 (1.0%).Conclusions: The majority (99%) of patients had normal thyroid outcome at 6 month follow-up. Only 1 patient had symptoms. This finding is reassuring and removes the need for ongoing thyroid surveillance during this time and probably longer. In the absence of symptoms, only a single TSH value at 6 month review is recommended.

PMID: 20439240

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20439240