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Thyroid dysfunction in Egyptian patients with hepatitis C virus: prevalence and possible triggering

The Egyptian Journal of Internal Medicine volume 31, pages 678–682 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

The contribution of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection per se in thyroid autoimmunity and dysfunction remains controversial. We investigate the prevalence of thyroid disorders and the possible association between thyroid dysfunction and different factors in a cohort of HCV-untreated patients.

Patients and methods

A total 1050 patients with untreated HCV infection were enrolled in this study. Thyroid function tests, antiperoxidase (TPO-Ab), antithyroglobulin, thyroid ultrasound, real-time PCR to assess HCV RNA viral load, and fibroscan to determine degree of hepatic fibrosis were done.

Results

Thyroid dysfunction was found in 17.1% of patients: 11.5% hypothyroidism and 5.6% hyperthyroidism. Subclinical hypothyroidism, overt hypothyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism, and overt hyperthyroidism were detected in 8.6, 2.8, 3.3, and 2.3% of patients, respectively. Thyroid ultrasound showed abnormality in 10.2% of patients. TPO-Ab and antithyroglobulin were positive in 5.1 and 6.4% of patients, respectively. TPO-Ab was more frequently positive in hyperthyroid patients compared with euthyroid (P<0.001) and hypothyroid (P<0.001) patients. Positive TPO-Ab was only significantly associated with thyroid state (P<0.001) and duration of HCV infection (P=0.02).

Conclusion

The prevalence of thyroid dysfunction is 17.1% among patients with HCV infection. Furthermore, thyroid disorder is related mainly to thyroid autoimmunity independent of age, sex, or level of viremia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nephrology Unit, Internal Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Ahmed Fayed & Ahmed Soliman

  2. Endocrinology Unit, Internal Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Cairo University, 41 Manial Street, 11451, Giza, Egypt

    Mervat Naguib MD, Hala M. Ali & Hemmat Elhaddad

Authors
  1. Ahmed Fayed
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  2. Ahmed Soliman
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  3. Mervat Naguib MD
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  4. Hala M. Ali
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  5. Hemmat Elhaddad
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Correspondence to Mervat Naguib MD.

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Fayed, A., Soliman, A., Naguib, M. et al. Thyroid dysfunction in Egyptian patients with hepatitis C virus: prevalence and possible triggering. Egypt J Intern Med 31, 678–682 (2019). https://doi.org/10.4103/ejim.ejim_64_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/ejim.ejim_64_19

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