Type 1 diabetes mellitus provoked by peginterferon α-2b plus ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis C

Abstract

A 51-year-old man developed type 1 diabetes mellitus following 24 weeks of treatment with recombinant a-2b peginterferon plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C. Pancreatic autoantibody tests were negative before the start of therapy, but a significant increase in glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibody titer was seen after 24 weeks of treatment. Six months after the onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus, the patient continues to receive 40 units of insulin daily. The clinical course suggested that recombinant α-2b peginterferon plus ribavirin provoked type 1 diabetes mellitus, therefore, in patients who are candidates for interferon therapy the presence of pancreatic autoantibodies and the fasting plasma glucose level should be investigated before and during treatment. © 2008 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.