Chronic hepatitis C treatment and thyroid dysfunction

Objectives: To determine the frequency of thyroid dysfunction associated with combination therapy with interferon-alpha and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Methodology: In this cross sectional study, 100 adult CHC patients were enrolled. Baseline TSH of each patient was normal. All were treated with thrice weekly recombinant IFN-alpha 2a and weight based daily ribavirin for 6 months. TSH levels were repeated at the end of treatment. Free thyroxin (FT4) levels were checked in patients with abnormal TSH level. Based on TSH and FT4 levels, diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction was made which was sub categorized into hypo (TSH levels > 5.00 mU/L and FT4 < 10.2 pmol/L) and hyperthyroidism (TSH levels < 0. lmU/L and FT4 > 25.9 pmol/L). Results: Fifty two percent of patients were females. Mean age was 37.3 +/- 11 years. 10% of patients developed thyroid dysfunction, of these 70% were females (p value > 0.05). Hypothyroidism was more frequently noted (70%) compared to hyperthyroidism. Conclusion: Thyroid dysfunction was noted in 10% of our patients receiving CHC treatment. Hypothyroidism was more common in these patients compared to hyperthyroidism.