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The British Journal of Rheumatology, Vol 37, 1349-1351, Copyright © 1998 by British Society for Rheumatology

ORIGINAL PAPERS

Hypothyroid myopathy as a complication of interferon alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus infection

G Ghilardi, JJ Gonvers and A So
Department of Rheumatology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Switzerland.

Interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy is associated with a number of immunological side-effects, including autoimmune diseases and a 10% prevalence of thyroiditis. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection itself predisposes to autoimmune phenomena including hypothyroidism and myositis. The development of clinical hypothyroidism in the presence of positive thyroid antibodies in patients infected with HCV and treated with IFN-alpha suggests a possible association between the viral disease and the therapy. HCV infection may predispose to autoimmune thyroid disease and IFN-alpha therapy may secondarily lead to the development of thyroid dysfunctions. We report the single case of a female patient who developed a severe proximal myopathy in conjunction with primary hypothyroidism (Hoffmann's syndrome) secondarily to IFN- alpha therapy for HCV infection. This case highlights the need for careful clinical and biological monitoring for potential side-effects in such patients.
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