Post-COVID-19 Fatigue: A Case of Infectious Hypothyroidism

Abstract

Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, an array of different clinical sequela and comorbid conditions have been discovered to be associated with COVID-19 infection. Of these sequela, subacute thyroiditis (SAT) causing hyperthyroidism has been prominent, more commonly affecting women. However, our case details a 49-year-old male patient with no history of thyroid disease showing signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism for six months after recovery from COVID-19 infection. His blood work was consistent with hypothyroidism, showing markedly elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), suppressed T3 levels, and positive anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody titers. The patient was treated with Synthroid and showed quick clinical improvement in symptoms. This case demonstrates that COVID-19 infection can cause overt hypothyroidism in male patients, adding yet another clinical sequela of COVID-19 infection to our clinical repertoire from recently published case reports.