[Autoimmune diseases and treatment with interferon-alpha: review of the literature apropos of a case of hyperthyroidism].

We report a case of thyrotoxicosis in a male patient under alpha-interferon (INF-alpha) therapy. Data from the literature show that treatment with IFN-a alone or combined with interleukin-2 (IL-2) can induce dysthyroidism (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis). The frequency of dysthyroidism under INF-alpha therapy ranges from 10 to 40% depending on the authors. During combined INF-alpha and IL-2 therapy these figures reach 20 to 91%. The presence of anthyroid antibodies before treatment makes it more probable that dysthyroidism will occur. The administration of INF-alpha can exacerbate or induce various autoimmune diseases.