Subacture Thyroiditis During Interferon Therapy

A 34-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis C received interferon- alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy. Her thyroid function was normal and thyroid autoantibodies were negative before treatment, Four months after the beginning of the therapy she presented a clinical course of thyroiditis with a transient thyrotoxicosis. The diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis was confirmed by laboratory, ultrasonography, radioiodine scanning and fine needle aspiration findings. Thyroid autoantibodies were persisting negative. She suspended IFN-alpha therapy and she started non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents and beta-blockers. Latent hypothyroidism subsequently developed, but L- thyroxine therapy resulted in a rapid normalization of thyroid function tests. (C) 1997, Editrice Kurtis.

Author: FALASCHI P, UNIV ROMA LA SAPIENZA, CATTEDRA CLIN MED 1, V POLICLIN 155, I-00161 ROME, ITALY Source: JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION 1997 JAN;20(1):24-28

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