Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus as a Possible Consequence ofTreatment of Viral Hepatitis with Interferon-alpha

Overview

Treatment of chronic hepatitis with interferon-alpha is an increasingly used successful therapeuticprocedure. In the literature in recent years data accumulated on side-effects of interferon therapy,among which relatively frequently insulin dependent diabetes is mentioned. Interferon-alphaenhances the expression of molecules of the histocompatible complex I which may cause in genetically predisposed subjects the clinical manifestation of diabetes. It is therefore recommended tomonitor before the onset of treatment and during interferon treatment the autoantibody formationagainst islet cells and against insulin which signalizes changes in the pancreas before the clinicaldisease proper.

Key words:
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus – treatment with interferon-alpha – viral hepatitis.