tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
BMC Infect Dis
. 2025 Jul 1;25(1):862.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-025-10518-0. Subacute thyroiditis as a post-COVID-19 complication: a systematic review
Kiana Ghafourian[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Fatemeh Salehian[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hosna Shakeri[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Aidin Saadati[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sara Hatami[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mehdi Goudarzi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Rosella Centis[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Lia D'Ambrosio[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Giovanni Sotgiu[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Mohammad Javad Nasiri[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Giovanni Battista Migliori[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Introduction: The emergence of Subacute Thyroiditis (SAT) in the wake of COVID-19 has presented a unique set of challenges for clinicians and researchers. This study delves into the intricate interplay between COVID-19 and SAT, examining a wealth of cases from observational studies.
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature review utilizing PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus databases, encompassing studies available up to January 2, 2025. The search strategy incorporated a combination of keywords such as "Subacute Thyroiditis" and "COVID-19," complemented by synonyms and Mesh terms. Relevant studies, investigating COVID-19-associated SAT were included.
Results: After a meticulous review of 964 papers, 46 records were included in the final analysis, consisting of 37 case reports and 9 case series. Our study, covered 75 individuals aged 18 to 85. Investigated patients presenting diverse symptoms, including anterior cervical pain and palpitations, displaying varying timelines from COVID-19 onset to SAT symptoms. Treatment approaches, involving prednisone and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), led to recovery in many cases, but some individuals experienced a transition to hypothyroidism. The diagnostic and laboratory investigations across revealed diverse profiles, thyroid imaging findings, inflammatory markers, thyroid function tests, and the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies.
Conclusion: The complexity of SAT is emphasized, particularly in the context of COVID-19. The consistent trend toward recovery of thyroid function not only suggests potential treatment efficacy but also emphasizes the necessity for vigilant symptom monitoring, especially in individuals with a history of COVID-19. Future studies should further investigate the details of SAT post-COVID-19, improving approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and patient care.
Keywords: COVID-19; Subacute thyroiditis; Systematic review.
. 2025 Jul 1;25(1):862.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-025-10518-0. Subacute thyroiditis as a post-COVID-19 complication: a systematic review
Kiana Ghafourian[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Fatemeh Salehian[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Hosna Shakeri[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Aidin Saadati[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sara Hatami[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mehdi Goudarzi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Rosella Centis[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Lia D'Ambrosio[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Giovanni Sotgiu[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Mohammad Javad Nasiri[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Giovanni Battista Migliori[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 40597703
- PMCID: PMC12220452
- DOI: 10.1186/s12879-025-10518-0
Introduction: The emergence of Subacute Thyroiditis (SAT) in the wake of COVID-19 has presented a unique set of challenges for clinicians and researchers. This study delves into the intricate interplay between COVID-19 and SAT, examining a wealth of cases from observational studies.
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature review utilizing PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Scopus databases, encompassing studies available up to January 2, 2025. The search strategy incorporated a combination of keywords such as "Subacute Thyroiditis" and "COVID-19," complemented by synonyms and Mesh terms. Relevant studies, investigating COVID-19-associated SAT were included.
Results: After a meticulous review of 964 papers, 46 records were included in the final analysis, consisting of 37 case reports and 9 case series. Our study, covered 75 individuals aged 18 to 85. Investigated patients presenting diverse symptoms, including anterior cervical pain and palpitations, displaying varying timelines from COVID-19 onset to SAT symptoms. Treatment approaches, involving prednisone and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), led to recovery in many cases, but some individuals experienced a transition to hypothyroidism. The diagnostic and laboratory investigations across revealed diverse profiles, thyroid imaging findings, inflammatory markers, thyroid function tests, and the presence of anti-thyroid antibodies.
Conclusion: The complexity of SAT is emphasized, particularly in the context of COVID-19. The consistent trend toward recovery of thyroid function not only suggests potential treatment efficacy but also emphasizes the necessity for vigilant symptom monitoring, especially in individuals with a history of COVID-19. Future studies should further investigate the details of SAT post-COVID-19, improving approaches to diagnosis, treatment, and patient care.
Keywords: COVID-19; Subacute thyroiditis; Systematic review.