A subacute thyroiditis case after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A case report and current literature review

Abstract

Subacute thyroiditis (SAT), is a self-limiting inflammatory disorder which is linked to a viral infection. A few cases of SAT were reported after Severe Acute Respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We here reported a case of SAT that occurred two weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection. A thirty-nine-year-old male with no comorbid diseases applied to our outpatient clinic with the complaints of sore throat, fatigue and subfebrile fever. He had a contact history of his wife who has a positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. The nasopharyngeal swab was performed and his SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test was confirmed positive. He recovered from all symptoms in one week. On the second week of the first diagnosis, he developed neck pain, fatigue, muscle pains, palpitation and tremors. Because his thyroid palpation was painful and he was more symptomatic thyroid function tests were performed. Thyrotropin was suppressed (0.01 mIU/L), free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels were high as 11 ng/L and 3.72 ng/dL, respectively. His cervical ultrasound also revealed SAT. He was treated with prednisolone, ibuprofen and propranolol. Within one week, there was a progressive resolution of signs and symptoms. After the third week, his laboratory results returned to normal ranges.