Recombinant interferon alpha (rIFN-alpha) does not potentiate the effect of iodine excess on the development of thyroid abnormalities in patients with HCV chronic active hepatitis.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the administration of pharmacological quantities of iodine during interferon-alpha (rIFN-alpha) treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B and C (HCV) would exacerbate the potential adverse effects of rIFN alpha on thyroid function.

DESIGN

Thyroid function tests were carried out in 48 euthyroid patients before and during rIFN-alpha therapy of HCV. Twenty-one of these patients were also treated with 10 drops saturated solution of potassium iodine (SSKI, approximately 350 mg iodine daily). Eight patients with HCV but not treated with rIFN-alpha received 10 drops SSKI.

PATIENTS: All patients were enthyroid prior to rIFN-alpha therapy for HCV or iodine and thyroid function tests were similar in the three groups.

MEASUREMENTS: Serum free T4, free T3, and TSH concentrations were measured prior to and at 30 and 60 days of rIFN-alpha therapy in the three groups of patients. The serum TSH response to TRH was assessed before rIFN-alpha therapy and on day 60. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies were measured before and during therapy.

RESULTS

During the 2-month study period, similar small but significant decreases in serum FT4 and FT3 and compensatory small significant increases in TSH concentrations were observed in the patients treated with rIFN-alpha + iodine and iodine alone but not in the patients receiving rIFN-alpha alone. Abnormal thyroid function tests were observed more frequently in patients receiving rIFN-alpha + iodine and iodine alone compared to those receiving rIFN-alpha alone.

CONCLUSIONS

Excess iodine administered to patients treated with rIFN-alpha induced small changes in thyroid function similar to those observed in patients treated with iodine alone. Thus, rIFN-alpha and iodine do not appear to be synergistic in the development of abnormal thyroid function tests over a 2-month treatment period.