Post COVID-19 subacute thyroiditis-de Quervain: a case series

Abstract

The Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had a public impact on various dimensions, including multisystemic complications. One such complication is subacute thyroiditis (SAT), also called subacute granulomatous or de Quervain thyroiditis, in which the severe acute respiratory syndrome-Coronavirus-2 virus affects thyroid tissue. Here we report seven patients with SAT and positive for COVID-19 and real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction. Neck pain was the most common symptom, followed by headache, fatigue, lethargy, and fever. Ultrasound revealed typical findings of the SAT. Corticosteroid treatment resulted in a complete improvement of inflammatory parameters and normalization of thyroid hormone levels. Our findings highlight the importance of considering rare cases of SAT as a potential complication of COVID-19. This report can also help physicians from various disciplines to identify such complications and provide better care for COVID-19 patients.

Keywords

• subacute thyroiditis
• covid-19
• pandemic
• case series