B-Cell-Activating Factor Affects the Occurrence of Thyroid Autoimmunity in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Treated with Interferon Alpha

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients frequently suffer from thyroid disorders during interferon therapy. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the association between serum B-cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) levels and the presence of antithyro...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inClinical & developmental immunology Vol. 2012; no. 2012; pp. 1 - 4
Main Authors Kikuchi, Kentaro, Hosoya, Naomi, Kajiyama, Yusuke, Miyakawa, Hiroshi, Hino, Kunihiko, Hoshino, Hiromi, Takai, Atsuko
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Puplishing Corporation 01.01.2012
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Hindawi Limited
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Summary:Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients frequently suffer from thyroid disorders during interferon therapy. However, the mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the association between serum B-cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family (BAFF) levels and the presence of antithyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO) in CHC patients treated with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin combination therapy. Six months after the therapy, anti-TPO antibody was detected in 10 (males, 1; females, 9) of 50 patients. The mean age of these patients was higher than that of the anti-TPO-negative patients (61 yr versus 55 yr). Before treatment, the serum BAFF levels of the anti-TPO-positive patients were higher than those of the anti-TPO-negative patients. After starting therapy, the serum BAFF levels of both the anti-TPO-positive and -negative patient groups were elevated. Our findings suggest that the serum BAFF concentration before therapy can predict the risk of thyroid autoimmunity in elderly female patients with CHC.
Bibliography:Academic Editor: Ana Lepique
ISSN:1740-2522
1740-2530
DOI:10.1155/2012/247973