Thyroid disease is a favorable prognostic factor in achieving sustained virologic response in chronic hepatitis C undergoing combination therapy: A nested case control study.

Background: Interferon-α in combination with ribavirin is the current gold standard for treatment of chronic hepatitis C. It is unknown if the development of autoimmune thyroid disease (TD) during treatment confers an improved chance of achieving sustained virologic response. The aim of this study is to assess the chance of achieving sustained virologic response (SVR) in patients who developed TD during treatment when compared with those who did not.

The natural history of interferon-α induced thyroiditis in chronic hepatitis c patients: a long term study.

Background: Autoimmune thyroid disease is a common complication of patients with chronic hepatitis C undergoing combination pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin treatment. A small proportion develops interferon-induced thyroiditis of which the long term natural history is unknown and how it compares with de novo thyroiditis. The aim of the study is to determine the natural history of thyroid disease including antibody profile in this particular setting 36 months from the completion of therapy.

Histopathologic findings of autoimmunity in thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal diseases in chronic hepatitis C postmortem cases.

Objective: To assess the histologic prevalence of immune-mediated thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal diseases in postmortem cases with hepatitis C.

Methods: We reviewed 108 consecutive cases of chronic hepatitis C in patients in whom a complete postmortem examination was performed. All microscopic and histologic slides of the thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal reports were reviewed and assessed for evidence of autoimmune diseases.

The Spectrum of Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in the Short to Medium Term Following Interferon-alpha Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C.

Autoimmune thyroid diseases are common manifestations of hepatitis C infection, exacerbated by interferon-based treatment. However, the occurrence and pattern of thyroid disease in the short/medium term following the completion of IFN-based therapy is relatively unknown and there are very few previous reports regarding the specific spectrum of autoimmune thyroid disease that may follow such therapy. We hereby report 3 cases which demonstrate the range of thyroid diseases that may occur following interferon therapy.

Hepatitis C infection and thyrotoxic periodic paralysis--a novel use of an old drug.

Hypokalaemic thyrotoxic periodic paralysis is an enigmatic and uncommon condition which occurs exclusively in males of Asian descent. The underlying causes of thyrotoxicosis may be any of the well-recognized etiologies including a toxic multinodular goiter, Graves' disease or iodine excess. Beside thyrotoxicosis, a number of other hormonal factors have been hypothesized to contribute to hypokalaemic thyrotoxic periodic paralysis, particularly postprandial hyperinsulinaemia and testosterone.

Exacerbation of hepatitis C induced subclinical hypoadrenalism by Interferon-alpha2beta: A case report.

Adrenal disease is an uncommon manifestation of hepatitis C infection and its related treatment regimen. This is a case of subclinical hypoadrenalism, probably induced by hepatitis C infection and further exacerbated by interferon-alpha2beta and Ribavirin therapy. The adrenal deterioration during the treatment course was observed closely with 24-hour salivary profiles and 250 mug adrenocorticotropin stimulation tests using parallel serum and salivary cortisol concentrations.

Reversible hypothyroidism and Whipple's disease.

Background: The major cause of primary hypothyroidism is autoimmune mediated with progressive and permanent destruction of the thyroid gland resulting in life-long replacement therapy. Treatable and reversible hypothyroidism is unusual and here forth is such a case due to infection of the thyroid gland with Tropheryma whippleii, Whipple disease.

Case Presentation: A 45 year-old female presented with symptoms and signs consistent with primary hypothyroidism, which was also confirmed biochemically.

Extreme hyperkalemia.

Hyperkalemia is a potentially fatal condition and is defined by a serum potassium level (K+) of greater than 5.5 mmol/L. The associated prevalence of cardiac arrhythmia increases directly with the degree of hyperkalemia.