COVID-19 Can Also Affect the Thyroid Gland

Study discovers atypical thyroid inflammation in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.

Research shows that some patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease inflammation in their thyroid gland which differs from general thyroid inflammation caused by other viruses. //

Although thyroid function returned to normal, one-third of the participants still showed signs of inflammation after three months. The patients are being followed to determine if the inflammation will result in long-term consequences like permanent thyroid dysfunction.

Can Drugs Affect Thyroid Function?
Some medications affect the normal function of thyroid gland leading to thyroid function disorders in the form of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. Read Patient Information Leaflet of medications to be aware of such effects and conduct regular monitoring of thyroid function to avoid complications

‘COVID-19 related thyroiditis differs from typical thyroiditis in several ways’
Read More..

Ilaria Muller, lead researcher, explains that while people with thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland) triggered by other viruses usually recover thyroid function in the short term, there is a long-term increased risk of permanently reduced thyroid function, caused by late-onset effects of viral infection, or by the immune system attacking the thyroid gland

In 2019 only 1% of the COVID-19 patients hospitalized in acute medicine units in Italy before the pandemic had thyroid hormone alterations, however this number increased to 15% in 2020.

Muller wanted to determine whether COVID-19 related thyroiditis follows the same pattern as thyroid inflammation caused by other viruses. She monitored the thyroid function of patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 every three months after being hospitalized. For this, the patients underwent routine blood and ultrasound testing.

Goitre (Thyroid Swelling) - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention
Goitre is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. Autoimmune diseases, hereditary factors, iodine deficiency cause goitre.

Findings showed that COVID-19 related thyroiditis differs from typical thyroiditis in several ways - absence of neck pain, presence of mild thyroid dysfunction and higher frequency among men.

All of the 53 patients who have completed the three month evaluation have had normal thyroid function.

Postpartum Thyroiditis - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment
Postpartum thyroiditis is an autoimmune thyroid disorder where the levels of thyroid hormone are abnormal within a year following childbirth.

"After three months, patients' thyroid function has normalized, but signs of inflammation were still present in about one-third of patients," Muller said.

"We are continuing to monitor these patients to see what happens during the following months. It is important to know whether SARS-CoV-2 virus has late-onset negative effects on the thyroid gland, in order to promptly diagnose, and eventually treat, the condition."

Thyroiditis - Types, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Thyroiditis is the inflammation of the thyroid gland. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is the most common type of thyroiditis.

Source-Medindia