Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has the potential to cause multi-organ effects including endocrine disorders. The impact of COVID-19 on the thyroid gland has been described but several aspects have to be clarified. The systematic review was conceived to achieve more solid information about: 1) which thyroid disease or dysfunction should be expected in COVID-19 patients; 2) whether thyroid patients have a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection; 3) whether the management has to be adapted in thyroid patient when infected. The literature was searched by two authors independently. A 5-step search strategy was a priori adopted. Only reviews focused on the relationship between thyroid and COVID-19 were included. The last search was performed on February 21st 2021. Two-hundred-forty-seven records was initially found and nine reviews were finally included. The reviews identified several potential thyroid consequences in COVID-19 patients, such as thyrotoxicosis, low-T3 syndrome and subacute thyroiditis, while no relevant data were found regarding the potential impact of COVID-19 on the management of patients on thyroid treatment. The present systematic review of reviews found that: 1) patients diagnosed with COVID-19 can develop thyroid dysfunction, frequently non-thyroidal illness syndrome when hospitalized in intensive care unit, 2) having a thyroid disease does not increase the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection, 3) thyroid patients do not need a COVID-19-adapted follow-up. Anyway, several factors, such as critical illness and medications, could affect thyroid laboratory tests.
Highlights
In March 2020, WHO declared the pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [1]
Data on the indication for monitoring thyroid patients when infected by SARS-CoV-2 are unclear and the need of thyroid follow-up is not supported it is known that patients in the intensive care unit typically present with decreased tri-iodothyronine, low thyroxine, and normal range or slightly decreased TSH, even if no proof exists for causality of this association [27]
It should be not surprising that COVID-19 patients present with this thyroid hormone profile, which should not be ascribed to COVID-19
Summary
In March 2020, WHO declared the pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [1]. What has been shocking for the whole medical scientific community is that SARS-CoV-2 has a wide spectrum of clinical severity, ranging from a- or pauci-symptomatic presentation to disease-specific mortality [3]. COVID-19 has the potential to cause upper respiratory tract, pulmonary and systemic inflammation, determining multi-organ dysfunction especially in frail patients [4]. These latter are at higher risk of COVID-19 specific death. Among the various clinical effects of SARS-CoV-2, the endocrine ones have been investigated. Treatment modifications are required as a consequence of COVID-19 in patients affected by endocrine
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
