To retrospectively study the incidence and risk factors of thyroid disease induced by peginterferon plus ribavirin (Peg IFN/RBV) antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

From January 2012 to December 2014, a total of 362 CHC patients were treated with Peg IFN/RBV antiviral therapy at Wuxi Fifth People′s Hospital, among whom 315 patients were included in this study. Thyroid function, autoantibodies and thyroid ultrasound were measured at baseline, weeks 12, 24 and 48. Comparisons between groups were performed using chi-square test for qualitative data and the unpaired t test for continuous variables.

After treatment, thyroid dysfunction developed in 12.1% of patients. Positive anti-thyroid peroxidase and anti-thyrobolulin antibodies were detected in 21% of patients. The thyroid ultrasound changes developed in 14.9% of the patients, among whom normal thyroid function and thyroid autoantibodies negative were detected in 8.7% of patients. The titer of thyroid autoantibodies increased steadily from baseline to the end of treatment. Logistic regression analysis showed that positive thyroid autoantibody (OR=5.423, 95%CI: 3.441—8.716), sustained virological response (OR=7.201, 95%CI: 6.231—10.206), female(OR=1.22, 95%CI: 0.951—2.212) were the risk factors of thyroid dysfunction.

Peg IFN/RBV antiviral treatment increases the incidence of thyroid disease in CHC patients. Positive thyroid autoantibody, sustained virological response and the female gender are the risk factors of thyroid dysfunction.

Hepatitis C; Interferon; Thyroid diseases; Research