VARIANTS OF THYROID GLAND PATHOLOGY IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS C PATIENTS

Introduction. HCV is the cause not only of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, but also extrahepatic manifestations. Currently, HCV is considered as an independent risk factor for thyroid pathology. In recent years, the level of pathology of the thyroid gland in the Altai Territory has increased by 16.4 times, which determined the purpose of this study: to study the features of the thyroid status in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in the Altai Territory. Materials and methods. There was executed a prospective, dynamic clinical, laboratory and instrumental examination of 240 CHC patients (47,5% of men and 52,5% of women aged of from 18 to 50 years), 120 of whom had HCV (49,1% of men and 50,9% of women, aged of from 18 to 50 years, mean age: 41,1±9,91 years) who did not receive antiviral therapy (HTV), the pathology of the thyroid gland in them was established for the first time. The study included the assessment of the level of TSH, total and free T3, T4, antibodies to thyreperoxidase (APPO), ultrasound examination of the thyroid gland. The diagnosis of CHC is based on HCV RNA, anti-HCV (core, NS3-5), blood biochemistry, fibrosis level score according to Metavir (elastometry, PBP). Results of the study. In HCV patients there were revealed autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) (5%), AIT with hypothyroidism (10%), AIT with latent hypothyroidism (8,3%), latent hypothyroidism (10%), hypothyroidism (16,6%), euthyroidism (49,1%) and thyrotoxicosis in only 1 patient. Variants of thyroid dysfunction were presented in the form of euthyroidism (60%), hypothyroidism (20%), hyperthyroidism (10%) and autoimmune thyroiditis (10%). The relationship between the development of the thyroid dysfunction (TD) and the history of the history of HCV infection has been established. Discussion and conclusions. CHC patients were more likely to have a history of euthyroidism and hypothyroidism. The relationship between TD and the duration of HCV infection can be regarded as its extrahepatic manifestation, and not as comorbid conditions. Thorough examination of the thyroid status it makes possible to identify TD people, which can be reflected in the choice of antiviral therapy and will determine the prognosis of the development of side effects.