Abstract

Objective: Ths study was carried out to determine the frequency of thyroid dysfunction associated with combination therapy with interferon-alpha and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).
Methodology: In this cross sectional study 100 adult CHC patients were enrolled. Base line TSH of each patient was normal. Standard CHC therapy with interferon and ribavirin for 6 months was given to each patient. TSH levels were repeated at the end of treatment. Age, gender, pre and end treatment TSH levels were noted. Based on TSH abnormalities diagnosis of thyroid dysfunction was made which was sub categorized into hypo and hyper thyroid. Fishers exact test was used as test of significance in gender based groups of patients with and without thyroid dysfunction.
Results: Fifty two percent patients were female. Mean patient age was 37.3 + 11 years. 10% patients developed thyroid dysfunction, of these 70% were females (p value >0.05). Hypothyroidism was more frequently noted (70%) compared to hypothyroidism in patients with thyroid dysfunction.
Conclusion: Thyroid dysfunction was noted in 10% of our patients receiving CHC treatment. Hypothyroidism was more common in these patients compared to hyperthyroidism.

Key words: Hepatitis C, thyroid dysfunction, interferon, ribavirin.