Open AccessUnusual cause of weight loss in a patient with HIV-hepatitis C virus coinfection
Author(s) -
Atul Gogia,
Atul Kakar
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
indian journal of sexually transmitted diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1998-3816
pISSN - 0253-7184
DOI - 10.4103/0253-7184.75004
Subject(s) - medicine , coinfection , autoimmune thyroiditis , thyroiditis , weight loss , interferon , hepatitis c virus , hepatitis , thyroid , immunology , virus , gastroenterology , side effect (computer science) , virology , obesity , computer science , programming language
Recombinant interferon α (IFN α), alone or in combination, is used extensively in the treatment of hepatitis C infection. IFN therapy is not free of side-effects and autoimmune thyroiditis is one of its rare side-effects. We present here a case of a patient with hepatitis C virus-human immunodeficiency virus coinfection on interferon therapy who presented with significant weight loss. He was found to have IFN-related autoimmune thyrotoxicosis and responded to antithyroid drugs and propanolol. Therefore, this case highlights that IFN-induced thyroiditis is an unusual side-effect and that during treatment, a thyroid-stimulating hormone assay should be performed at regular intervals (every 8-12 weeks).