Subacute thyroiditis following recovery from COVID-19 infection: novel clinical findings from an Eastern Indian cohort.
Postgrad Med J
; 99(1172): 558-565, 2023 Jun 15.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1794457
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Recent reports have suggested a link between COVID-19 infection and subacute thyroiditis (SAT). We aimed to describe variations in clinical and biochemical parameters in patients developing post-COVID SAT.DESIGN:
Ours was a combined retrospective-prospective study on patients presenting with SAT within 3 months of recovery from COVID-19 infection, who were subsequently followed up for a further 6 months since diagnosis of SAT.RESULTS:
Out of 670 patients with COVID-19, 11 patients presented with post-COVID-19 SAT (6.8%). Those with painless SAT (PLSAT, n = 5) presented earlier, had more severe thyrotoxic manifestations and exhibited higher C-reactive protein, interleukin 6 (IL-6), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio and lower absolute lymphocyte count than those with painful SAT (PFSAT, n = 6). There were significant correlations of total and free T4 and total and free T3 levels with serum IL-6 levels (pall <0.04). No differences were observed between patients with post-COVID SAT presenting during the first and second waves. Oral glucocorticoids were needed for symptomatic relief in 66.67% of patients with PFSAT. At 6 months of follow-up, majority (n = 9, 82%) achieved euthyroidism, while subclinical and overt hypothyroidism were found in one patient each.CONCLUSIONS:
Ours is the largest single-centre cohort of post-COVID-19 SAT reported until, demonstrating two distinct clinical presentations-without and with neck pain-depending on time elapsed since COVID-19 diagnosis. Persistent lymphopaenia during the immediate post-COVID recovery period could be a key driver of early,painless SAT. Close monitoring of thyroid functions for at least 6 months is warranted in all cases.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Thyroiditis, Subacute
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Postgrad Med J
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Postgradmedj-2021-141429
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