Thyroidal Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Protein Expression and Thyroid Function Tests in Patients with COVID-19: Results from a Retrospective Case Series and a Prospective Cohort Study
Authors' conclusion
The high percentage of positive ACE2 immunostaining in deceased patients compared with normal thyroid tissue of patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection suggests involvement of the thyroid in COVID-19, although further research will have to show the pathogenic role of thyroidal ACE2 in COVID-19. Abnormal fT3 and a TSH of ≤0.5 mU/L were associated with a fatal outcome in our severely ill SARS-CoV-2 patient cohort.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with severe COVID-19 who died (case series) and patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 (prospective cohort)153 in cohort
- Exposure
- Thyroidal ACE2 expression in deceased COVID-19 patients vs patients without SARS-CoV-2 infection; Thyroid function tests (TFTs) by COVID-19 severity
- Deceased COVID-19n = 23
- Outcome
- Thyroidal ACE2 protein expression
Methodological detailsimmunohistochemical staining
- Immunohistochemical staining
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Deceased COVID-19
87%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Low free triiodothyronine (fT3) levels in severely ill COVID-19 patients
- Half of severely ill COVID-19 patients had low fT3
Low fT3 and TSH and deadly disease
- Combination of low fT3 and TSH was significantly associated with deadly disease
Original publication
Thyroidal Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Protein Expression and Thyroid Function Tests in Patients with COVID-19: Results from a Retrospective Case Series and a Prospective Cohort Study. Thyroid. Published 14 February 2023. doi:10.
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