SUSTAINED HYPOTHYROIDISM INDUCED BY RECOMBINANT ALPHA INTERFERON IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C

Thyroid dysfunction has been reported in patients with malignant disease treated with recombinant alpha-interferon. Two cases of hypothyroidism in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with recombinant alpha-interferon are reported. In one patient, interferon induced hypothyroidism in the absence of pre-existing thyroid dysfunction and in the other it aggravated a pre-existing thyroid dysfunction. Both patients developed a severe, sustained hypothyroidism requiring thyroxine treatment for one year or more after stopping alpha-interferon. Diagnosis of hypothyroidism during treatment can be difficult because of the common side effects of alpha-interferon. Thyroid function should be assessed before and during alpha-interferon therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.