Long-term outcome of thyroid abnormalities in patients with severe Covid-19
Authors' conclusion
Severe Covid-19 induces mild transient thyroid dysfunction correlating with disease severity. Focal hypoechogenicity, associated with baseline high FT4, IL6 and low TSH, does not seem to be related to thyroid autoimmunity and may persist after 1 year although decreasing in size. Long-term consequences seem unlikely.
Study context
- Population
- Consecutive patients hospitalised for severe Covid-19 without known thyroid history75 followed up
- Participants
- 183 patients
- Outcome
- Evolution of thyroid dysfunction (atypical thyroiditis) over time
- Follow-up
- 12 months
Methodological detailsconsecutive patients, 12-month follow-up
- Consecutive patients
- 12-month follow-up
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Atypical thyroiditis at baseline (after excluding 63 patients on steroids before hospitalisation from TSH analysis)
12
10%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Focal hypoechogenicity on baseline ultrasound scan (US)
- Baseline US available
- 65 patients
- Focal hypoechogenicity
- 28%
- Reduced thyroid 99mTc/123I uptake among those with focal hypoechogenicity
- 82%
- Association with baseline low TSH
- P = 0.034
- Association with baseline high free-thyroxine (FT4)
- P = 0.018
- Association with baseline high IL6
- P = 0.016
Persistence of focal hypoechogenicity · 6 and 12 months
- Persisted at 6 months
- 87%
- Persisted at 12 months
- 50%
- Reduced in size
Thyroid 99mTc/123I uptake · 9 months
- Partial recovery from baseline
- +28%
- Still reduced
- 67%
Original publication
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