SARS-CoV-2 and Subacute Thyroiditis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Subacute Thyroiditis Following COVID-19 and COVID-19 Vaccination

OBJECTIVE

COVID-19 infection and immunizations have been implicated in developing a range of thyroid diseases, including subacute thyroiditis (SAT). This study aimed to evaluate the association between COVID-19 infection and/or COVID-19 vaccination with SAT.

METHODS

A population of 3 million adults insured by Clalit Health Services was evaluated from March 2020 to September 2022. Patients with a new diagnosis of SAT were identified and matched in a 1:10 ratio to a control group. Each control was assigned an index date that was identical to that of their matched case, defined as the date of SAT diagnosis. Multivariate conditional logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between COVID-19 infection, vaccine, and thyroiditis.

RESULTS

A total of 3221 patients with SAT were matched with 32 210 controls. Rates of COVID-19 vaccination (first, second, or third dose) and COVID-19 infection were evaluated prior to the date of SAT diagnosis (disease group) or index date (control group) to detect a possible association. No difference was detected between the groups in relation to vaccinations at the 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days of time points (P = .880/0.335/0.174, respectively). No difference was found between groups in relation to COVID-19 infection at these time points (P = .735/0.362/0.956, respectively). There was higher use of medications for the treatment of thyroiditis, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (28.6% vs 7.9%, P < .01), steroids (10.3% vs 1.8%, P < .01), and beta-blockers (18.3% vs 5.4%, P < .01).

CONCLUSION

Based on this large population study, no association was found between COVID-19 infection and/or the COVID-19 vaccine and SAT.

Development of Peptic Ulcer following Second Shot of Sputnik V Vaccine: A Case Report and Literature Review of Rare Side Effects of Sputnik V Vaccine

Considering the global spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is expected that vaccination against its causative agent, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), will reduce the related morbidity and mortality. However, the safety of the COVID-19 vaccines and their potential and unknown side effects are a matter of concern. With the ongoing development and implementation of COVID-19 vaccination programs around the world, the side effects, safety, and effectiveness of these vaccines are gradually being reported, providing researchers with valuable information that can affect the production and utilization of the COVID-19 vaccines. The present study intended to report a case of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) development following vaccination with Gam-COVID-Vac, a vector-based COVID-19 vaccine containing two recombinant human adenoviruses (rAd26 and rAd5).

Subacute thyroiditis following COVID-19: A systematic review

Background

Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a self-limiting thyroid inflammatory disease occurring specifically after upper respiratory tract infections. Since COVID-19 is a respiratory disease leading to multi-organ involvements, we aimed to systematically review the literature regarding SAT secondary to COVID-19.

Methods

We searched Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane, Web of Science, ProQuest, and LitCovid databases using the terms "subacute thyroiditis" and "COVID-19" and their synonyms from inception to November 3, 2022. We included the original articles of the patients with SAT secondary to COVID-19. Studies reporting SAT secondary to COVID-19 vaccination or SAT symptoms' manifestation before the COVID-19 infection were not included.

Results

Totally, 820 articles were retained. Having removed the duplicates, 250 articles remained, out of which 43 articles (40 case reports and three case series) with a total of 100 patients, were eventually selected. The patients aged 18-85 years (Mean: 42.70, SD: 11.85) and 68 (68%) were women. The time from the onset of COVID-19 to the onset of SAT symptoms varied from zero to 168 days (Mean: 28.31, SD: 36.92). The most common symptoms of SAT were neck pain in 69 patients (69%), fever in 54 (54%), fatigue and weakness in 34 (34%), and persistent palpitations in 31 (31%). The most common ultrasonographic findings were hypoechoic regions in 73 (79%), enlarged thyroid in 46 (50%), and changes in thyroid vascularity in 14 (15%). Thirty-one patients (31%) were hospitalized, and 68 (68%) were treated as outpatients. Corticosteroids were the preferred treatment in both the inpatient and outpatient settings (25 inpatients (81%) and 44 outpatients (65%)). Other preferred treatments were nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nine inpatients (29%) and 17 outpatients (25%)) and beta-blockers (four inpatients (13%) and seven outpatients (10%)). After a mean duration of 61.59 days (SD: 67.07), 21 patients (23%) developed hypothyroidism and thus, levothyroxine-based treatment was used in six of these patients and the rest of these patients did not receive levothyroxine.

Conclusion

SAT secondary to COVID-19 seems to manifest almost similarly to the conventional SAT. However, except for the case reports and case series, lack of studies has limited the quality of the data at hand.

Clinical, biochemical features and functional outcome of patients with SARS-CoV-2-related subacute thyroiditis: a review

INTRODUCTION

SARS CoV-2 infection involves many organs and systems, including the thyroid, in which it manifests itself as subacute thyroiditis (SAT). After our first description of SAT due to SARS-CoV2 infection, other reports have confirmed the correlation between SARS-CoV-2 and SAT. We review the cases of SAT associated with COVID-19 to highlight its peculiar clinical and biochemical features, including its outcome and what it has added to our understanding of SAT.

RESULTS

We have reviewed 24 articles, for a total of 69 cases of SAT related to SARS-CoV2 infection. All had neck pain, whereas thyrotoxicosis was documented in 68/68 who had their thyroid function checked. Ultrasound, performed in 67 patients, was typical of SAT in 65 and low uptake at scintigraphy was demonstrated in all 12 evaluated patients. Patients had a prompt response to the anti-inflammatory and/or glucocorticoid therapy, as expected in SAT. The rate of hypothyroidism was higher (36.5%) in COVID-19-related SAT compared to that observed in the pre-COVID era (10%).

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical, biochemical, and instrumental features of SAT related to SARS-CoV2 are like those observed in SAT cases reported prior to COVID-19 pandemic, but it appears more severe.

A Case Report of Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis after COVID-19 Infection

Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), which is associated with many systemic inflammatory reactions and high morbidity and mortality rates, became a serious public health problem and led to a rapid epidemic. Fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath are the most common symptoms of COVID-19. In addition to respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID-19 are increasingly known to progress more rapidly than other symptoms and can occur in cases of mild infection or even after remission of the viral infection. Acute pancreatitis (AP) caused by COVID-19 is one of the rare gastrointestinal symptoms which is an acute inflammatory disease of the pancreas that is associated with high complications. Here, we report acute COVID-19-induced pancreatitis in a 38-year-old man who died.

Esophagitis Dissecans Superficialis after COVID-19; A Case Report

Esophagitis dissecans superficialis (EDS) is an uncommon disease characterized by esophageal mucosal sloughing. EDS is a benign condition that usually resolves without residual pathology. Medication, chemical irritants, hot drinks, and autoimmune diseases have all been associated with EDS. Here a 60-year-old lady with post-COVID-19 EDS is presented. Her chief complaint was dysphagia and odynophagia for 2 weeks duration. EDS diagnosis was based on endoscopic findings and biopsy. Her problem was improved by a high dose of pantoprazole.