SUBACUTE THYROIDITIS DURING INTERFERON-ALPHA THERAPY FOR CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C

A 34-year-old woman with chronic hepatitis C received interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy. Her thyroid function was normal and thyroid auto antibodies were negative before treatment, Four months after the begin ning of the therapy she presented a clinical course of thyroiditis wit h a transient thyrotoxicosis. The diagnosis of subacute thyroiditis wa s confirmed by laboratory, ultrasonography, radioiodine scanning and f ine needle aspiration findings. Thyroid autoantibodies were persisting negative. She suspended IFN-alpha therapy and she started non steroid al anti-inflammatory agents and beta-blockers. Latent hypothyroidism s ubsequently developed, but L-thyroxine therapy resulted in a rapid nor malization of thyroid function tests. (C) 1997, Editrice Kurtis.