My NCBISign In

Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

    Thyroid Res.;2(1):12.

    The influence of hepatitis C infection and interferon-alpha therapy on thyrotropin blocking and stimulating autoantibodies in Graves' ophthalmopathy: a case report.

    Tran HA, Reeves GE.

    Department of Clinical Chemistry and University of Newcastle, Locked Bag 1, Hunter Region Mail Centre, Newcastle, New South Wales 2310, Australia. huy.tran@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au.

    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus is a highly immunogenic pathogen often inducing autoimmune activation changes and this can often be further exacerbated by Interferon therapy. As HCV is lymphocytotropic, it can modulate T cell and B cell antibody responses, affecting many endocrine organs, most commonly the thyroid. CASE PRESENTATION: We hereby describe a case of fluctuating and wavering thyrotropin autoantibodies of both stimulating and blocking nature in the setting of Graves's ophthalmopathy, hepatitis C infection and interferon-alpha, causing hypo- and subsequently hyper-thyroidism. The autoantibody profile was clearly modified during interferon therapy and settled into a new equilibrium at the completion of treatment. CONCLUSION: The case highlights the possible existence of a dual thyroid autoantibody population associated with hepatitis C, and its modulation by interferon therapy, which further compounds the difficulties in the assessment thyroid disease in this setting.

    PMID: 19954547 [PubMed - in process]

    PMCID: PMC2791747

    Supplemental Content

    Click here to read Click here to read
    Write to the Help Desk