Case report

The influence of hepatitis C infection and interferon-α therapy on thyrotropin blocking and stimulating autoantibodies in Graves' ophthalmopathy: a case report

Huy A Tran¹ and Glenn EM Reeves²

¹  Department of Clinical Chemistry and University of Newcastle, Locked Bag 1, Hunter Region Mail Centre, Newcastle, New South Wales 2310, Australia

²  Department of Immunopathology and University of Newcastle, Locked Bag 1, Hunter Region Mail Centre, Newcastle, New South Wales 2310, Australia

author email corresponding author email

Thyroid Research 2009, 2:12doi:10.1186/1756-6614-2-12

Published:	2 December 2009

Abstract

Background

Hepatitis C virus is a highly immunogenic pathogen often inducing autoimmune activation changes and this can often be further exacerbated by Interferon therapy. As HCV is lymphocytotropic, it can modulate T cell and B cell antibody responses, affecting many endocrine organs, most commonly the thyroid.

Case presentation

We hereby describe a case of fluctuating and wavering thyrotropin autoantibodies of both stimulating and blocking nature in the setting of Graves's ophthalmopathy, hepatitis C infection and interferon-α, causing hypo- and subsequently hyper-thyroidism. The autoantibody profile was clearly modified during interferon therapy and settled into a new equilibrium at the completion of treatment.

Conclusion

The case highlights the possible existence of a dual thyroid autoantibody population associated with hepatitis C, and its modulation by interferon therapy, which further compounds the difficulties in the assessment thyroid disease in this setting.