Thyroid Dysfunction in Non-Interferon Treated Hepatitis C Patients Residing in Hepatitis Endemic Area.
BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017. [PMID:
28638825 PMCID:
PMC5468572 DOI:
10.1155/2017/2390812]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background
Association of thyroid dysfunction (TD) with interferon treatment of HCV is well known to clinicians. However, a few studies have highlighted the role of hepatitis C virus per se in the development of TD. The aim of this study was to know the prevalence of TD in non-interferon treated HCV infected patients referred for thyroid function testing.
Patients and Methods
Among 557 ELISA-positive HCV patients 446 (341 females, 105 males) were selected for this study. Serums FT4, FT3, and TSH were determined by radioimmunoassay method.
Results
TD was detected in 15.2% of patients: 9.0% hypothyroidism and 6.3% hyperthyroidism. In increasing order subclinical hypothyroidism, overt hypothyroidism, overt hyperthyroidism, and subclinical hyperthyroidism were found in 4.7%, 4.3%, 3.6%, and 2.7% patients, respectively. Overall TD was more common in female than in male HCV patients but the difference was not significant (16.1% versus 12.4%; p = 0.648). Hyperthyroidism and subclinical hypothyroidism were slightly more common in female and overall hypothyroidism and overt hypothyroidism in male patients but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The incidence of TD was relatively high in patients above 36 years (median age) but the difference was not statistically significant either collectively or in gender base groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
Prior to interferon treatment, HCV infection itself causes biochemical thyroid dysfunction in 15.2% of local HCV patients.
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