New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Anti-Aquaporin-4 Antibody Positive Optic Neuritis Associated with Type 1 Interferon Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C

摘要

A 60-year-old woman developed type 1 diabetes mellitus and anti-aquaporin-4 antibody positive optic neuritis during type 1 interferon therapies for chronic hepatitis C. The diabetes mellitus was elicited by interferon-a plus ribavirin therapy, while the optic neuritis was induced after interferon-beta treatment, followed by interferon-a and ribavirin therapy. It is possible that type 1 interferons lead to the onset of the two autoimmune diseases by inducing disease-specific autoantibodies. Autoimmune disease is an infrequent complication of type 1 interferon treatment; however, once it has occurred, it may result in severe impairments. Patients undergoing type 1 interferon therapy should therefore be carefully monitored for any manifestations of autoimmune diseases.