A case of arthropathy and hypothyroidism during recombinant alpha-interferon therapy.

Late side effects of alpha-interferon therapy include some autoimmune diseases, such as thyroiditis. We present the case of a patient with severe chronic active hepatitis and hepatitis-C-virus positivity, who during alpha-interferon therapy developed an autoimmune thyroiditis and at the same time arthropathy with some characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis (several articular stations simultaneously affected, involvement of the hand joints and morning stiffness).