Clinical Thyroidology® for the Public
Summaries for the Public from recent articles in Clinical Thyroidology
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THYROID FUNCTION TESTS
COVID-19 and the thyroid
BACKGROUND
The last year has seen the emergence of COVID-19 infection caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus worldwide. Some reports suggest that the thyroid may be affected by COVID 19, including damage to thyroid cells and reduced staining for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in the anterior pituitary gland of patients infected with severe COVID 19. Nevertheless, the effects on thyroid function of COVID-19 remain unclear. Some studies have shown an increased risk of subacute thyroiditis, while others have observed a generalized reduction in serum TSH, total thyroxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations that is more consistent with response of the thyroid to general illness.
This study was done to look for the frequency of abnormal thyroid function in patients with COVID 19.
THE FULL ARTICLE TITLE
Khoo B et al 2021 Thyroid function before, during, and after COVID-19. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 106: e803– e811. PMID: 33180932.
SUMMARY OF THE STUDY
This study was done in the United Kingdom. Adults over 18 years of age who were admitted to three hospitals with a clinical suspicion of the COVID-19 were studied.
Clinical data was reviewed. Patients with a history of thyroid disease were excluded. Thyroid tests were done before, during the admission and after the discharge.
There was no significant difference in patients with thyroid disease among patients who had the infection vs. those who did not. The TSH and free T4 levels were slightly lower in the patients with the infection, but, still in the normal range for those thyroid tests. There was also no significant connection between the thyroid levels and survival in patients with the infection.
WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS STUDY?
Most of the patients who had the acute COVID -19 infection as well as those who recovered had normal thyroid levels. Though slightly lower levels (within the normal range) were noted in some patients, they returned to normal. This study shows that the thyroid hormone levels remain fairly stable despite the COVID-19 infection in patients who did not have a pre existing thyroid disorder.
— Vibhavasu Sharma, MD, FACE
ATA THYROID BROCHURE LINKS
Thyroid Function Tests: https://www.thyroid.org/thyroid-function-tests/
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the Thyroid: https://www.thyroid.org/covid-19/ coronavirus-frequently-asked-questions/
ABBREVIATIONS & DEFINITIONS
Thyroxine (T4): the major hormone produced by the thyroid gland. T4 gets converted to the active hormone T3 in various tissues in the body.
Triiodothyronine (T3): the active thyroid hormone, usually produced from thyroxine.
Triiodothyronine (T3): the active thyroid hormone, usually produced from thyroxine, available in pill form as Cytomel™.
TSH: thyroid stimulating hormone — produced by the pituitary gland that regulates thyroid function; also the best screening test to determine if the thyroid is functioning normally.
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