ABSTRACT
Background: Interferon alpha [IFN-q is widely used as a therapeutic agent for Hepatitis C [HCV] infections. Chemokines (including CXCLIO, CCL5 and CCLll] have been identified to play an important role in endocrine autoimmune diseases and particular attention has been raised by studies demonstrating CXC chemokines over expression in Hashimoto thyroiditis. Objective: Study serum levels of CXCLIO, CCL5, and CCLll chemokines as predictors for interfer on-induced thyroiditis in HCV patients submitted for antiviral therapy. Patients and Methods: Seventy two patients with HCV Infection selected from 100 patients submitted for INF-alpha and ribavirin therapy were recruited into; group 1 comprised 59 patients with negative anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies [ATPO], group 2 comprised 13 patients with positive ATPO, Twenty healthy adults were included as control Thyroid function, auto-antibodies and serum chemokines [CXCLIO, CCL5, and CCLll, assayed by a quantitative sandwich immunoassay] were performed before therapy, after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. Results: In comparison to group 1, group 2 patients had significantly higher ANA [P=0.03S], ATPO, CXCLIO and CCL5 [all P= 0.000] and significantly lower TSH [P=0.30] before therapy; higher ATPO, CCL5 [all P= 0.001] and lower TSH [P= 0.034] after 12 weeks; higher ATPO and lower TSH [all P= 0.001] after 24 weeks of therapy. Thyroiditis occurred in 10.2 % of group 1 and 38.5 % of group 2 patients after 12 weeks of therapy without significant difference between the two groups. After 24 weeks of therapy, group 2 patients had significantly higher number of thyroiditis [53.8 %] than group 1 [11.9 %] [P=0.001]. Significant increase of CXCLIO was found in patients with thyroiditis [P<0.05] at the end of therapy. Conclusion: As HCV infection might contributes to the initiation of thyroid autoimmunity and interferon induced thyroiditis is a frequent complication of IFN-a therapy, HCV infected patients could be subjected to thyroid screening by utilizing some chemokines as CXCLIO, CCL5 in addition to ATPO for identification of those who are prone to thyroiditis during IFN-a therapy?