Subacute Thyroiditis a Potential Consequence of COVID-19

Subacute thyroiditis may be considered a potential consequence of SARS-COV-2 infection, according to study results presented at the 30th Annual Scientific and Clinical Congress of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (ENVISION 2021).

Researchers analyzed the clinical, biochemical, and imaging features of patients with subacute thyroiditis after resolution of COVID-19 infection 2 to 6 weeks prior. All patients evaluated (N=11) were women aged 30 to 45 years.

Clinical evaluation revealed neck pain that radiated to the jaw, palpitations, heat intolerance, anorexia, and unintentional weight loss. Patients were afebrile but with sinus tachycardia (heart rate of 100 bpm). Upon physical examination, the researchers found nonenlarged thyroid glands that were diffusely tender without any lymphadenopathy. One patient experienced mild tremors of the extremities, a diffuse and painful goiter, and enlarged and tender cervical and submandibular lymph nodes. Another patient developed pain and tenderness in the anterior cervical region, fatigue, tremors, and palpitations.

The study researchers observed that inflammatory markers were high across the patient group. Markers for thyroid function were suggestive of destructive thyroiditis; thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) was suppressed, free thyroxine (FT4) and free triiodothyronine (FT3) were elevated, and serum thyroglobulin was increased (175 ng/mL; referral range 2.68-33.2). Thyroid scintigraphy showed markedly reduced ^99mTc-pertechnetate uptake in the thyroid.

All patients were successfully treated and asymptomatic 10 weeks after the onset of subacute thyroiditis, according to the researchers. “Clinicians should be aware of thyroid manifestations potentially associated with COVID-19,” the investigators concluded.

Reference

Asimi ZV, Dzuvo AH. Subacute thyroiditis in patients infected with SARS-COV-2. Poster presented at: 30th Annual Scientific and Clinical Congress of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (ENVISION 2021); May 26-29, 2021; virtual.