Thyroiditis after mRNA Vaccination for COVID-19.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 has been known to cause multisystemic involvement, gaining entry through ACE-2 and TMPRSS2 receptors. COVID-19 vaccine-associated thyroiditis cases are now being reported. Case Report. Case 1. A 36-year-old woman with a history of right hemithyroidectomy for a benign thyroid nodule, on a stable dose of levothyroxine with euthyroid labs, presented with progressively worsening left neck pain, episodic palpitations, and heat intolerance after the second dose of mRNA1273 (Moderna) vaccine. Examination revealed an enlarged and tender left lobe of the thyroid with suppressed TSH but normal free T4 and ESR, signifying subacute thyroiditis. She was managed conservatively without corticosteroids or beta-blockers, and her symptoms resolved. A follow-up revealed increasing TSH, and levothyroxine was restarted. Case 2. A 33-year-old man with a history of anxiety disorder on Sertraline, presented with a two-week history of palpitations, heat intolerance, and 10-pound weight loss after the second dose of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) vaccine. Examination revealed a normal thyroid gland with no tenderness with elevated thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies. Ultrasound showed a diffusely heterogeneous thyroid with increased vascularity, suggesting silent thyroiditis. Follow-up revealed a hypothyroid phase with high TSH for which levothyroxine supplementation was started. Discussion. COVID-19 vaccine-associated subacute and silent thyroiditis have occurred following all three kinds of available vaccines, characterized by an initial thyrotoxic phase, followed by a hypothyroid phase and a recovery phase. Hypotheses include an immune response triggering thyroid inflammation or cross-reactivity with viral proteins. Conclusions: COVID-19 vaccine-associated thyroiditis is rare, but long-term monitoring of these patients is essential to ensure appropriate diagnosis and management of the potential hypothyroid phase.

Metastatic Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Survival Is Unaffected by Mode of Preparation for 131I Administration.

Context: Recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) is currently not Food and Drug Administration approved for the treatment of high-risk patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Objective: The goal of our study was to compare the outcomes in higher-risk patients with metastatic DTC prepared for radioiodine (RAI) therapy with rhTSH vs thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW). Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed of patients with metastatic DTC in follow-up at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital from 2009 to 2017. Patients were divided according to their preparation for RAI therapy, with assessment of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Fifty-five patients with distant metastases (16 men, 39 women) were prepared for RAI therapy exclusively either with rhTSH (n = 27) or with THW (n = 28). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding clinicopathological features and history of RAI therapies. The median follow-up time for patients with rhTSH-aided therapies was 4.2 years (range, 3.3-5.5 years) and for patients with THW-aided therapies was 6.8 years (range, 4.2-11.6 years) (P = .002). Multivariate analysis showed that the method of thyrotropin stimulation was not associated with a difference in PFS or OS. Conclusion: As has been shown previously for low-risk DTC, this study indicates that the mode of preparation for RAI therapy does not appear to influence the outcomes of patients with metastatic DTC. PFS and OS were similar for patients with THW-aided or rhTSH-aided RAI therapies.

Insulin Requirements in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Undergoing Bariatric Surgery in the Inpatient Setting and Upon Discharge: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis of Insulin Management Strategies.

OBJECTIVE: Rapid improvement in blood glucose (BG) after weight-loss surgery (WLS) can make postoperative glucose management challenging in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study examined the safety and efficacy of insulin management strategies during hospitalization and after discharge following WLS. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study included 160 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus undergoing WLS. Patients with glycated hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) level <7% (53 mmol/mol) and not on antihyperglycemic medications or metformin monotherapy were excluded. BG and insulin dosing during hospitalization and at 2-week follow-up, and impact of preoperative HbA1C level were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean age was 46.3 years. Median preoperative HbA1C level was 8% (64 mmol/mol). Postoperatively, most patients received basal insulin plus sliding-scale insulin (SSI; 79/160, 49%) or SSI alone (77/160, 48%). The initial postoperative basal dose was 0.23 units/kg/day. The median basal insulin dose at discharge was 61% lower than preoperative dose. At 2-week follow-up, 34 of 44 patients (77%) had BG levels between 70-200 mg/dL and 1 of 44 (2.2%) had BG levels >200 mg/dL, with no hypoglycemia. Patients with HbA1C level >9% (75 mmol/mol) had higher BG on admission and during hospitalization, required higher insulin doses while hospitalized, and were more frequently discharged on insulin. CONCLUSION: SSI is effective in managing BG in some patients immediately after WLS. However, about half of the patients may require basal insulin at doses similar to those required by other inpatients. Preoperative hyperglycemia may affect inpatient insulin needs and BG. Low-dose basal insulin appears safe and effective upon discharge for select patients.

Iodine Deficiency and Supplementation in Pregnancy.

Iodine deficiency during pregnancy is an important global public health issue and the leading preventable cause of neurodevelopmental impairments worldwide. The effects of severe iodine deficiency during pregnancy, including adverse obstetric outcomes and decreased child intelligence quotient, have been clearly established. However, the effects of mild-to-moderate deficiency remain less well understood. Pregnant and lactating women have higher iodine requirements than other adults; intakes of 220 to 250 µg/d in pregnancy and 250 to 290 µg/d in lactation. In this article, we describe iodine metabolism, iodine requirements in pregnancy and lactation, the effects of both iodine deficiency and excessive iodine intakes in pregnancy, and the efficacy of iodine supplementation.

Case Studies in Thyroid Dysfunction and Pregnancy.

This chapter represents a selection of 8 clinical scenarios that may commonly be encountered. They help summarize some of the literature and teaching points of the previous chapters. They are not meant to represent every possible presentation of thyroid disease, but rather to present common symptoms and findings that may aid a clinician in making a diagnosis or in selecting initial treatment.