Diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM 1) and autoimmune thyroiditis as a complication of Interferon alpha treatment.

Czech version

Authors: T. Grimmichová ¹; J. Vrbíková ¹; Z. Vlasáková ²
Authors‘ workplace: Endokrinologický ústav, Praha Ředitel: doc. MUDr. Vojtěch Hainer, CSc. ¹; Klinika diabetologie Přednosta: doc. MUDr. František Saudek, DrSc. Centrum diabetologie Přednosta: prof. MUDr. Terezie Pelikánová, DrSc. Institut klinické a experimentální medicíny, Praha Ředitel: MUDr. Štefan Vítko, CSc. ²
Published in: Prakt. Lék. 2007; 87(3): 160-161
Category: Of different specialties

Overview

Interferon alpha (INF alpha) belongs to a group of cytokines with anti-viral, antiproliferative and immunomodulating effects. INF alpha is an approved drug for the treatment of viral hepatitis, hematological (and other) malignancies. Different side effects have been reported in patients treated with INF alpha, such as the induction or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases. The mechanism responsible for the development of autoimmunity is not fully understood. We report on a 42 year old male who was treated with pegylated interferon alpha in combination with ribavirin for confirmed hepatitis C. Both diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM 1) and hypothyroidism caused by autoimune thyroiditis developed during the course of INF alpha treatment.

Key words:
interferon, diabetes, thyroiditis, hepatitis C.