Thyrotoxicosis induced by alpha-interferon therapy in chronic viral hepatitis.

Background And Objective: It has been well documented that treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C infection with interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) can lead to the induction of thyroid autoantibodies and hypothyroidism. Thyrotoxicosis, however, is less frequently observed and less well characterized.

Patients And Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients who developed thyrotoxicosis while receiving IFN-alpha for either chronic hepatitis B or C infection at Westmead Hospital between 1996 and March 2001.