Autoimmunity and peginterferon therapy for polycythemia vera
Abstract
Peginterferon‑α is useful to treat myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) but can precipitate broad autoimmunity. By promoting beta‐cell, thyroid, and systemic immune injury, it can lead to Type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or Sjögren's syndrome. Onset typically occurs within the first months but may be delayed until after treatment cessation. Type 1 diabetes is usually irreversible and requires lifelong therapy, whereas thyroiditis and lupus more often improve after interferon withdrawal, though autoantibodies frequently persist. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of how peginterferon can induce autoimmunity in genetically susceptible individuals with pre‐existing subclinical autoimmunity. Pre‐treatment risk assessment, including personal/family history of autoimmune disease and consideration of baseline thyroid function and anti‐GAD antibodies in high‐risk patients, may identify those at elevated risk for irreversible complications, particularly Type 1 diabetes. Targeted clinical and laboratory monitoring throughout therapy and for 12–24 months post‐cessation can enable early detection and appropriate intervention.
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BibTeX
@article{riviere2026autoimmunity,
title = {{Autoimmunity and peginterferon therapy for polycythemia vera}},
author = {Etienne Rivière and Alexandre Guy and Olivier Mansier and Clémence Mediavilla and Jean‐jacques Kiladjian and Chloé James and Patrick Blanco and Estibaliz Lazaro and Jean‐françois Viallard},
journal = {HemaSphere},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1002/hem3.70432},
url = {https://u-bordeaux.hal.science/hal-05737728v1},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Autoimmunity and peginterferon therapy for polycythemia vera
AU - Etienne Rivière
AU - Alexandre Guy
AU - Olivier Mansier
AU - Clémence Mediavilla
AU - Jean‐jacques Kiladjian
AU - Chloé James
AU - Patrick Blanco
AU - Estibaliz Lazaro
AU - Jean‐françois Viallard
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/16
JO - HemaSphere
DO - 10.1002/hem3.70432
UR - https://u-bordeaux.hal.science/hal-05737728v1
AB - Peginterferon‑α is useful to treat myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) but can precipitate broad autoimmunity. By promoting beta‐cell, thyroid, and systemic immune injury, it can lead to Type 1 diabetes, autoimmune thyroiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or Sjögren's syndrome. Onset typically occurs within the first months but may be delayed until after treatment cessation. Type 1 diabetes is usually irreversible and requires lifelong therapy, whereas thyroiditis and lupus more often improve after interferon withdrawal, though autoantibodies frequently persist. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of how peginterferon can induce autoimmunity in genetically susceptible individuals with pre‐existing subclinical autoimmunity. Pre‐treatment risk assessment, including personal/family history of autoimmune disease and consideration of baseline thyroid function and anti‐GAD antibodies in high‐risk patients, may identify those at elevated risk for irreversible complications, particularly Type 1 diabetes. Targeted clinical and laboratory monitoring throughout therapy and for 12–24 months post‐cessation can enable early detection and appropriate intervention.
SN - 2572-9241
ER -