Subacute thyroiditis associated with COVID-19

BMJ Case Rep. 2020 Aug 25;13(8):e237336. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2020-237336.

Abstract

We report a case of a hospitalised patient with COVID-19 who developed subacute thyroiditis in association with SARS-COV-2 infection. The patient presented with tachycardia, anterior neck pain and thyroid function tests revealing hyperthyroidism together with consistent ultrasonographic evidence suggesting subacute thyroiditis. Treatment with corticosteroids resulted in rapid clinical resolution. This case illustrates that subacute thyroiditis associated with viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 should be recognised as a complication of COVID-19 and considered as a differential diagnosis when infected patients present with tachycardia without evidence of progression of COVID-19 illness.

Keywords: endocrinology; hyperthyroidism; thyroid disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / complications*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / complications*
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Thyroiditis, Subacute / diagnosis
  • Thyroiditis, Subacute / diagnostic imaging
  • Thyroiditis, Subacute / drug therapy
  • Thyroiditis, Subacute / virology*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Prednisolone