A prospective follow-up of thyroid volume and thyroiditis features on ultrasonography among survivors of predominantly mild to moderate COVID-19

PeerJ

article

Man Him Matrix Fung¹  David Tak Wai Lui²  Keith Wan Hang Chiu³  Sherman Haynam Lee¹  Chi Ho Lee²  Wing Sun Chow²  Alan Chun Hong Lee²  Anthony Raymond Tam⁴  Polly Pang²  Tip Yin Ho²  Carol Ho Yi Fong²  Connie Hong Nin Loong²  Chun Yiu Law⁵  Kelvin Kai Wang To⁴  Ching Wan Lam⁶  Kathryn Choon Beng Tan²  Yu Cho Woo²  Ivan Fan Ngai Hung²  Karen Siu Ling Lam²  Brian Lang¹ 

[1] Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong;Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong;Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong;Department of Microbiology, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong;Division of Chemical Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong;Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong

关键词: COVID-19;    SARS-CoV-2;    Thyroid gland;    Ultrasonography;    Thyroiditis;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.15034

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundWe previously showed that higher SARS-CoV-2 viral load correlated with smaller thyroid volumes among COVID-19 survivors at 2 months after acute COVID-19. Our current follow-up study evaluated the evolution of thyroid volumes and thyroiditis features within the same group of patients 6 months later.MethodsAdult COVID-19 survivors who underwent thyroid ultrasonography 2 months after infection (USG1) were recruited for follow-up USG 6 months later (USG2). The primary outcome was the change in thyroid volume. We also reassessed thyroiditis features on USG, thyroid function and anti-thyroid antibodies.ResultsFifty-four patients were recruited (mean age 48.1 years; 63% men). The mean thyroid volume increased from USG1 to USG2 (11.9 ± 4.8 to 14.5 ± 6.2 mL, p < 0.001). Thirty-two patients (59.3%) had significant increase in thyroid volume by ≥15%, and they had a median increase of +33.3% (IQR: +20.0% to +45.0%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that only higher baseline SARS-CoV-2 viral load independently correlated with significant thyroid volume increase on USG2 (p = 0.022). Among the seven patients with thyroiditis features on USG1, six (85.7%) had the features resolved on USG2. None had new thyroiditis features on USG2. All abnormal thyroid function during acute COVID-19 resolved upon USG1 and USG2.ConclusionMost COVID-19 survivors had an increase in thyroid volume from early convalescent phase to later convalescent phase. This increase correlated with high initial SARS-CoV-2 viral load. Together with the resolution of thyroiditis features, these may suggest a transient direct atrophic effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the thyroid gland with subsequent recovery of thyroid volume and thyroiditis features.

【 授权许可】

CC BY