![]() ![]() One of the commonest side-effects of IFNα therapy is thyroiditis. IFNα therapy is associated with many side effects ranging from influenza-like symptoms to hematologic and neuropsychiatric side effects ( 6). Approximately 50% of patients with chronic hepatitis C, who are treated with IFNα plus ribavirin, will achieve a sustained virologic response ( 5). One of the major indications for IFNα treatment is chronic hepatitis C. IFNα binds to interferon receptors, and activates various signaling pathways, including the JAK-STAT pathway, the Crk-pathway, the IRS signaling pathway, and the MAP kinase pathway thereby stimulating transcription of target proteins which mediate its immune anti-tumor effects ( 2– 4). Interferon alpha (IFNα) is a type I interferon that has been widely used as a therapeutic agent mostly, but not exclusively, for infectious and malignant diseases ( 1). Early detection and therapy of this condition are important in order to avoid complications of thyroid disease such as cardiac arrhythmias. It is believed that IFNα induces thyroiditis by both immune stimulatory effects and by direct effects on the thyroid. It is likely that the hepatitis C virus (HCV) itself plays a role in the disease, as the association between HCV infection and thyroiditis is well established. While the epidemiology and clinical presentation of IIT have been well characterized the mechanisms causing IIT are still poorly understood. Non-autoimmune thyroiditis can manifest as destructive thyroiditis, with early thyrotoxicosis and later hypothyroidism, or as non-autoimmune hypothyroidism. IIT can manifest as clinical autoimmune thyroiditis, presenting with symptoms of classical Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Graves’ disease, or as non-autoimmune thyroiditis. In some cases interferon induced thyroiditis (IIT) may result in severe symptomatology necessitating discontinuation of therapy. One of the commonest side effects of IFNα therapy is thyroiditis, with up to 40% of HCV patients on IFNα developing clinical or subclinical disease. Interferon-alpha (IFNα) is used for the treatment of various disorders, most notable chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
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