COVID-19 AND THE THYROID FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH HCV- ASSOCIATED HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA.

Abstract

COVID-19 is more than a respiratory infection, with deep implications regarding multiple systems and organs. Thyroid damage is frequent in COVID-19 and may overlap previous HCV or HCC associated diseases. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of COVID-19 in patients with HCV associated HCC and thyroid comorbidities. We performed a retrospective study of the thyroid function tests and autoantibodies in patients with HCV-associated HCC prior and during COVID-19. We included 52 consecutive patients with HCV-associated HCC and documented thyroid disease, diagnosed with COVID -19 between April and October 2020. Serum values of thyroid-stimulating hormone, free T3, free T4, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies and anti-thyroid peroxydase antibodies were determined and compared to baseline levels. At baseline, 44 patients had positive antithyroid antibodies, 6 had hypothyroidism in substitution and 2 had hyperthyroidism under treatment. During COVID-19 we found an increase in serum values of antithyroid antibodies, and decreased levels of TSH, freeT3 and freeT4 levels. Specific therapies were discontinued in one patient with hyperthyroidism and 3 patients with hypothyroidism. There is a significant impact of COVID-19 on the thyroid homeostasis; a long-term prognostic value for patients with HCC infected with COVID-19 required further extensive research.