Higher SARS-CoV-2 viral loads correlated with smaller thyroid volumes on ultrasound among male COVID-19 survivors.
Endocrine
; 74(2): 205-214, 2021 11.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1380484
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE:
Thyroid dysfunction, including thyroiditis, is well recognized in COVID-19 patients. We evaluated thyroid ultrasonographic features among COVID-19 survivors, which are less well known.METHODS:
Adult COVID-19 survivors without known thyroid disorders who attended dedicated COVID-19 clinic underwent thyroid ultrasonography and assessment of thyroid function and autoimmunity. Adults admitted for acute non-thyroidal surgical problems and negative for COVID-19 were recruited as control. SARS-CoV-2 viral load (VL) was presented as the inverse of cycle threshold values from the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of the respiratory specimen on admission.RESULTS:
In total, 79 COVID-19 patients and 44 non-COVID-19 controls were included. All abnormal thyroid function tests during acute COVID-19 recovered upon follow-up. Thyroid ultrasonography was performed at a median of 67 days after acute COVID-19. The median thyroid volume was 9.73 mL (IQR 7.87-13.70). In multivariable linear regression, SARS-CoV-2 VL on presentation (standardized beta -0.206, p = 0.042) inversely correlated with thyroid volume, in addition to body mass index at the time of ultrasonography (p < 0.001). Sex-specific analysis revealed similar results among men but not women. Eleven COVID-19 patients (13.9%) had ultrasonographic changes suggestive of thyroiditis, comparable to non-COVID-19 patients (p = 0.375). None of these 11 patients had isolated low thyroid-stimulating hormone levels suggestive of thyroiditis at initial admission or the time of ultrasonography.CONCLUSIONS:
Higher SARS-CoV-2 VL on presentation were associated with smaller thyroid volumes, especially in men. Further research is suggested to investigate this possible direct viral effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the thyroid gland. There was no increased rate of ultrasonographic features suggestive of thyroiditis in COVID-19 survivors.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Thyroiditis
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Endocrine
Journal subject:
Endocrinology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12020-021-02855-2
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