Central hypothyroidism and hypophysitis during treatment of chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin.

Thyroid dysfunction is a known complication of interferon treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Other uncommon endocrine complications have been reported during the treatment of viral hepatitis with IFN-alpha, such as hypopituitarism. A 54-year-old female patient with chronic hepatitis C began treatment with pegylated (PEG)-IFN-alpha 2a 180 mug/week plus ribavirin 1,000 mg/day.