Tran HA, Reeves GE. The influence of hepatitis C infection and interferon-alpha therapy on thyrotropin blocking and stimulating autoantibodies in Graves' ophthalmopathy: a case report.
Thyroid Res 2009;
2:12. [PMID:
19954547 PMCID:
PMC2791747 DOI:
10.1186/1756-6614-2-12]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2009] [Accepted: 12/02/2009] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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-α, 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.
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