Endocrinology Research and Practice
Case Report

Persistent Subacute Thyroiditis Post SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in a Male Patient with Positive Thyroid Autoantibodies

1.

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak, TURKEY

2.

Department of Internal Medicine, Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak, TURKEY

Endocrinol Res Pract 2022; 26: 48-54
DOI: 10.25179/tjem.2021-86594
Read: 3476 Downloads: 701 Published: 01 March 2022

ABSTRACT

Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) has been recently associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 infection or vaccines against it. We report a case of a 41-yearold male patient who developed persistent SAT after the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. He presented with sore throat and neck pain after the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (CoronaVac®). There was no history of a recent viral infection. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were elevated, thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (fT4) were normal, COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction test was negative, and sonography showed thyroiditis in the right lobe. The symptoms resolved after treatment with methylprednisolone. However, 2 weeks after the second dose of the vaccine, the patient suffered from neck pain and hoarseness. TSH and fT4 were normal, but anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti- TPO), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg), ESR, and CRP were elevated. Sonography revealed thyroiditis in the left lobe. The patient was treated with ibuprofen. On follow-up, hypothyroidism was diagnosed, and levothyroxine started. Hence, the clinicians should suspect the possibility of SAT in the vaccinated subjects.

 

 

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EISSN 2822-6135