J Korean Endocr Soc.  2010 Mar;25(1):68-71. 10.3803/jkes.2010.25.1.68.

Autoimmune Thyroiditis during Antiviral Therapy with Peginterferon

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Korea.

Abstract

Combination treatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin has been established as a standard therapy for chronic hepatitis C. Although interferon therapy is relatively safe, an important side effect is the induction of autoantibodies and autoimmune disease, especially autoimmune thyroid disease. Interferon associated autoimmune thyroid disease can consist of autoimmune hypothyroidism, Graves' disease, and destructive thyroiditis. Thyroid disease may lead to dose reduction or discontinuation of therapy.

Keyword

Autoimmune thyroiditis; Hypothyroidism; Peginterferon

MeSH Terms

Autoantibodies
Autoimmune Diseases
Graves Disease
Hepatitis C, Chronic
Hypothyroidism
Interferons
Ribavirin
Thyroid Diseases
Thyroid Gland
Thyroiditis
Thyroiditis, Autoimmune
Autoantibodies
Interferons
Ribavirin

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Ultrasonography of the thyroid. Heterogeneously low echo texture at both thyroid gland without focal lesion.


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