author(s)
Qadeem Khan, Muhammad Zahid, Niaz Ali, Aakifullah Khan, Khayyam and Mahboob-ul Haq

abstract
This study investigated the possible relationship between the autoimmune thyroid disorders and hepatitis B and C infections. We studied prospectively 100 patients (78 women and 22 men; mean age: 44.32 ± 11.39 Yrs) and 100 euthyroid (70 men and 30 women; mean age: 40.10 ± 8.95 Yrs) as controls. In all patients HCV and HBV antibodies, TSH, TT4, TT3, and circulating anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) were measured. HCV antibodies were in 4% and HBV antibodies in 1% of patients and HCV was 1% in control samples (p<0.05). Hepatitis B surface antigen and HBs antibodies were found only in 1% of patients and none in the controls. The difference in thyroid function in both positive and negative HCV and HBV sub groups was insignificant. These results confirms the relation between hepatic viral infections and immune mediated thyroid lesions. Therefore, investigation of TG-Ab and TPO-Ab in hepatic viral infections before interferon therapy, is recommended.