Abstract | OBJECTIVE: DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Five patients, who had a history of autoimmune thyroid disease diagnosed between 2 and 16 years earlier (three patients had Graves' disease while two had Hashimoto's thyroiditis), were treated with rIFN-alpha for chronic hepatitis C. Before, during and after rIFN-alpha therapy, we determined thyroid function, antithyroid antibody, thyroid echogenicity and the surface phenotype of the peripheral and intrathyroidal lymphocytes. RESULTS: Four of the patients developed overt hypothyroidism after 4-7 months of rIFN-alpha therapy, and two of them had a preceding history of low-uptake thyrotoxicosis. Recovery of thyroid function was observed in all four patients. Strongly positive blocking type TSH receptor antibody was detected and an increase in the percentage of CD19 positive cells in the intrathyroidal lymphocytes was also observed in three of the patients even though the goitre size increased in two of them. One of the patients became thyrotoxic later when stimulating type TSH receptor antibody became positive. Another patient suffered from reversible hypothyroidism although stimulating type TSH receptor antibody remained strongly positive throughout the clinical course. CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | F Q Chen, K Okamura, K Sato, T Kuroda, T Mizokami, M Fujikawa, H Tsuji, S Okamura, M Fujishima |
Journal | Clinical endocrinology
(Clin Endocrinol (Oxf))
Vol. 45
Issue 2
Pg. 207-14
(Aug 1996)
ISSN: 0300-0664 [Print] England |
PMID | 8881454
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Antigens, CD19
- Autoantibodies
- Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating
- Interferon Type I
- Receptors, Thyrotropin
- Recombinant Proteins
- thyrotropin-binding inhibitory immunoglobulin
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Topics |
- Adult
- Antigens, CD19
(immunology)
- Autoantibodies
(immunology)
- Female
- Graves Disease
(complications, immunology)
- Hepatitis C
(complications, therapy)
- Humans
- Hypothyroidism
(etiology, immunology)
- Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating
- Interferon Type I
(therapeutic use)
- Lymphocytes
(immunology)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Receptors, Thyrotropin
(immunology)
- Recombinant Proteins
- Thyroid Gland
(immunology)
- Thyroiditis, Autoimmune
(complications, immunology)
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