THYROID DYSFUNCTION

DURING COMBINED PEG-INTERFERON ALPHA-2A AND RIBAVIRIN THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

Abstract

Hepatitis C is a burning issue. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus reported in Pakistan
is 5% with areas of high infection in different cities and subsets of population. Objectives: To
find out the frequency of thyroid related dysfunctions in chronic hepatitis C patients on Peg-
Interferon Alpha-2a and Ribavirin therapy. Study Design: A prospective cohort study. Place
and Duration of Study: Hepatitis Center DHQ teaching hospital Sahiwal from July 2013 to June
2014. Material and Methods: We studied 100 patients of chronic HCV infection with baseline
level of TSH,T3 and T4. Baseline serum ALT and serum AST were also measured. Patients were
put on Peg-Interferon Alpha-2a (180 ug) weekly and Ribavirin (800 to 1000 mg/d) for 24weeks.
All patients were followed up for thyroid dysfunction at weeks 0, 12, 18 and 24. Result: Out
of 100 treated patients 65 were female and 35 were male. Fifteen (15%) patients developed
thyroid dysfunction and out of these 15 patients (11 female [73.3%] and 4 male [26.7%]).
Ten (66.6%) out of 15 patients developed hypothyroidism and 5(33.3%) out of 15 patients
developed hyperthyroidism. Seven (70%) out of 10 patients who developed hypothyroidism
needed levothyroxine therapy. Two (40%) out of 5 patients who developed hyperthyroidism
needed carbimazol therapy for their symptoms and disease control. All patients completed
hepatitis C treatment with combined Peg-Interferon Alpha-2a and Ribavirin therapy.