Painless Thyroiditis Research Articles

Long-Term Antithyroid Drug Therapy in Smoldering or Fluctuating-Type Graves' Hyperthyroidism with Potassium Iodide.

Graves' hyperthyroidism is characterized by stimulation of the thyroid gland by thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies (TRAbs). Antithyroid drug (ATD) continuation is recommended as long as the thyroid gland is stimulated. Goiter size, thyroidal 123I uptake, serum thyroglobulin level, and TRAb positivity are reliable markers of thyroid stimulation. Attention must also be paid to the responsiveness of the thyroid gland due to the high prevalence of painless thyroiditis and spontaneous hypothyroidism during treatment. TRAbs disappeared at <5 years entering remission in 36.6% of patients (smooth-type), while re-elevation of TRAb activity occurred in 37.7% (fluctuating-type) and remained positive for >5 years in 21.1% (smoldering-type). Seven percent of patients remained positive for TRAbs for >30 years, requiring life-long ATD treatment. Remission occurred after median 6.8 years (interquartile range, 4.0 to 10.9) of ATD treatment in 55% of patients. However, late relapse may occur after stressful events (dormant type). In apparently intractable Graves' disease (GD) with a large goiter (>40 g), 131I therapy should be considered. For initial and long-term ATD treatment, we must choose effective, safe, and economical drugs such as 100 mg potassium iodide (KI), although KI sensitivity varies in patients with GD. Thionamide, which has notorious side effects, is added only during the KI-resistant period.

6601 A Case of Recurrent Painless Thyroiditis and Discussion of Management

Abstract Disclosure: M.C. Slack: None. S. Grock: None. Introduction: Painless (silent) thyroiditis is characterized as a subacute and generally self-limited disease process in which patients develop transient thyrotoxicosis, which is often followed by a hypothyroid phase before entering the recovery euthyroid phase. Given high frequency of positive thyroid antibodies, it may be autoimmune-mediated; recurrence is rare. Here we present a case of recurrent painless thyroiditis and discuss management options. Clinical Case: A Korean woman was followed by endocrinology from age 38 to 60 and experienced at least seven episodes of painless thyroiditis over this time. The episodes occurred without an identifiable trigger and were not preceded by viral illness. During episodes she developed palpitations, hair loss, and dyspnea on exertion and biochemical evidence of thyrotoxicosis with TSH suppressed to &amp;lt;0.2 mIU/mL (normal 0.3-4.7) and elevated free T4 levels as high as 5.4 ng/dL (normal 0.8-1.7). TSI, TPO, and TSH receptor antibodies were checked during multiple episodes and resulted negative, though thyroglobulin antibody was significantly elevated. A radioactive iodine uptake scan was obtained during an active episode of thyroiditis and revealed diffusely low uptake. The patient’s episodes lasted approximately two to three months before normalization of her TSH and FT4. She had at least one instance of transient hypothyroidism after thyrotoxicosis with a TSH of 13.2 and FT4 of 0.6 which subsequently normalized 6 weeks later. The patient did not have known cardiovascular disease and DXA scans revealed mild osteopenia with the lowest T-score -1.3. RAI was considered for the patient based on the total number and increasing frequency of her episodes. She ultimately declined treatment with RAI and continues to follow with endocrinology. Clinical Lessons: While the deleterious effects of prolonged hyperthyroidism (e.g. osteoporosis, arrhythmia, cardiovascular disease) are well known, it is unclear what risk recurrent painless thyroiditis episodes pose. As there are no guidelines regarding treatment, clinical gestalt incorporating frequency and duration of episodes, as well as symptoms, is often used to determine if definitive management is indicated. There are case reports in the literature of treatment of recurrent thyroiditis with RAI ablation performed during a euthyroid state, which eliminated recurrence of episodes but did lead to permanent hypothyroidism necessitating hormone replacement. Surgical thyroidectomy may also be considered in select patients. This case highlights the challenges in treating rare cases of recurrent painless thyroiditis given the lack of research or established guidelines. It is reasonable to consider the frequency, severity, and total number of episodes, as well as patient risk factors, symptoms, and preferences when making recommendations regarding management. Presentation: 6/1/2024

Painless thyroiditis associated with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza infections in a patient with central hypothyroidism after pituitary surgery.

We present the case of a 50-year-old Japanese woman who was transferred to our hospital with a 2-day history of fever, sore throat, and malaise. She was diagnosed with acromegaly 9 months ago while being treated for diabetic ketoacidosis, for which she underwent pituitary surgery. She was diagnosed with hypopituitarism postoperatively and was prescribed hydrocortisone and levothyroxine. Her glycemic control was good on metformin. Tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and influenza were positive in the emergency room. Other laboratory findings included thyrotoxicosis (free T3: 9.13 pg/mL; free T4: 3.64 ng/dL; and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): <0.01 μIU/mL) and a high C-reactive protein (CRP) level (3.84 mg/dL). The test for the TSH receptor antibody was negative. She had no apparent goiter and reported no tenderness in response to thyroid palpation. 99m-Technetium scintigraphy revealed decreased tracer uptake. Ultrasonography showed no hypoechoic lesions. Her thyrotoxicosis spontaneously resolved after 6 weeks. Although both anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb) were negative 9 months ago, TgAb was positive at admission. The test for TPOAb became positive 6 weeks later. These findings were suggestive of painless thyroiditis. In this patient, painless thyroiditis was believed to be caused by SARS-CoV-2 and influenza infections. Screening tests of thyroid function in patients with viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2 or influenza are recommended, even when thyroid gland pain or tenderness is not observed. We describe a case of painless thyroiditis associated with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza infections. Although a few cases of painless thyroiditis associated with COVID-19 have been reported, no cases of painless thyroiditis associated with influenza have been reported. In this case, thyrotoxicosis developed immediately after the viral infection. In addition, tests for anti-thyroglobulin antibody and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody were negative before the onset of symptoms. Tests for the former became positive at the time of onset of symptoms, whereas tests for the latter became positive several weeks after the onset of symptoms. Patients with viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, who had no goiter or thyroid tenderness, may develop painless thyroiditis; screening tests for thyroid function are recommended.

Two Case Studies of Painless Thyroiditis with Special Presentation

Two Case Studies of Painless Thyroiditis with Special Presentation

An Evaluation of the Efficacy of Machine Learning in Predicting Thyrotoxicosis and Hypothyroidism: A Comparative Assessment of Biochemical Test Parameters Used in Different Health Checkups.

Objective This study assessed the efficacy of machine learning in predicting thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism [thyroid-stimulating hormone >10.0 mIU/L] by leveraging age and sex as variables and integrating biochemical test parameters used by the Japan Society of Health Evaluation and Promotion (JHEP) and the Japan Society of Ningen Dock (JND). Methods Our study included 20,653 untreated patients with Graves' disease, 3,435 untreated patients with painless thyroiditis, 4,266 healthy individuals, and 18,937 untreated patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Machine learning was conducted using Prediction One on three distinct datasets: the Ito dataset (age, sex, and 30 blood tests and biochemical test data), the JHEP dataset (age, sex, and total protein,total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (γGTP), alkaline phosphatase, creatinine (CRE), uric acid (UA), and T-Cho test data), and the JND dataset (age, sex, and AST, ALT, γGTP, CRE, and UA test data). Results The results for distinguishing thyrotoxicosis patients from the healthy control group showed that the JHEP dataset yielded substantial discriminative capacity with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.966, sensitivity of 92.2%, specificity of 89.1%, and accuracy of 91.7%. The JND dataset displayed similar robustness, with an AUC of 0.948, sensitivity of 92.0%, specificity of 81.3%, and accuracy of 90.4%. Differentiating hypothyroid patients from the healthy control group yielded similarly robust performances, with the JHEP dataset yielding AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy values of 0.864, 84.2%, 72.1%, and 77.4%, respectively, and the JND dataset yielding values of 0.840, 83.2%, 67.2%, and 74.3%, respectively. Conclusion Machine learning is a potent screening tool for thyrotoxicosis and hypothyroidism.

Multiparametric ultrasound-based assessment of overt hyperthyroid diffuse thyroid disease.

Hyperthyroidismis a prevalent condition affecting global populations, with an overall prevalence of 1.2%. Our research aimed to establish a systematic diagnostic approach using multiparametric ultrasound (MPUS) to diagnose hyperthyroid diffuse thyroid disease (DTD). We conducted a retrospective study from June 2021 to June 2023 at a specialized endocrinology center in Timisoara, Romania, enrolling subjects presenting with clinical hyperthyroidism. Using the Mach 30 Aixplorer ultrasound equipment, evaluations were performed initially in B-mode US, followed by Color Doppler and Spectral Doppler measurements, and finally, 2D Shear wave elastography (SWE). From the 218 patients analyzed, the diagnosis of DTD with hyperthyroidism was confirmed through biochemical assessment, subgrouping various pathologies such as subacute thyroiditis, Graves' disease, painless thyroiditis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, iatrogenic, as well as healthy controls. In the first step, B-mode hypoechogenicity had an AUC of 0.951 for DTD detection. In the second step, the peak systolic velocity differentiated Graves' disease with a median of 42.4 cm/s and an AUC of 1. Lastly, the third step consisted of SWE evaluation, revealing a mean elasticity index in the SAT subgroup significantly higher from other subgroups (p<0.001) with an AUC of 1. Our study offers a step-by-step evaluation algorithm for DTD diagnosis, with a very good overall diagnostic performance (AUC of 0.946).

A Rare Case of Painless Destructive Thyroiditis Resulting in Thyroid Storm.

Thyroid storm is a life-threatening clinical condition that is usually triggered by untreated or interrupted treatment of Graves' disease, leading to the sudden onset of severe thyrotoxicosis, which requires an immediate diagnosis and treatment based on diagnostic criteria. Cases of thyroid storm caused by painless/painless subacute thyroiditis are very rare. We herein report an 85-year-old man with features of severe thyrotoxicosis caused by painless/painless subacute thyroiditis who had no uptake of 99mTcO4 and was negative for thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies. In thyroid storm patients in whom the findings are inconsistent with Graves' disease, careful follow-up and management are necessary, assuming the possibility of painless or painless subacute thyroiditis.

Ipilimumab associated hypophysitis and painless thyroiditis: case report

Ipilimumab associated hypophysitis and painless thyroiditis: case report

FRI517 BIUX2X2

Abstract Disclosure: K. Dash: None. U. Ayyagari: None. A Rare Presentation of Solitary Thyroid Nodule - Microfilaria: Case reportDash Kalpana,* Ayyagari Usha***Department of Endocrinology &amp; Metabolism, Apollo Hospitals, Bilaspur. Chhattisgarh, India.** Smriti Speciality Klinics, Chennai, IndiaTel: +919827143474, Email: drkdash@rediffmail.com. Introduction: Filariasis is a debilitating public health problem in the tropics most commonly presenting with asymptomatic microfilaremia. Clinical manifestations include lymphangitis/lymphadenitis in lower limbs(elephantiasis), peritoneum, scrotum(hydrocele), and rarely in breast (breast lump), pleural effusion, bone marrow, and thyroid (painless nodule or thyroiditis). Diagnosis is by demonstrating microfilaria in peripheral blood or tissue biopsy or detection of filarial antigen/antibody in blood. Adult worms are found in lymphatics, subcutaneous tissue, peritoneal and pleural fluid, heart, brain, scrotum, breast, and rarely, thyroid. Filariasis may rarely present as superficial swellings at unusual sites. We present a case of filarial thyroid nodule, a rare manifestation of filarial disease. Clinical Case: Female, 72, presented with painless swelling over the thyroid for 6 months. She had no significant past medical history, was otherwise asymptomatic, clinically and biochemically euthyroid, with normal hemogram, RFT, and LFT. Clinical examination revealed a firm, non-tender nodule measuring 35x45mm, moves with deglutition. On USG of neck, a nodular hypoechoic lesion of 41x45mm was seen over right lobe of thyroid with calcification. FNAC was done for suspected carcinoma &amp; showed histiocytes, hurthle cells, giant cells and a single viable Microfilarial form of Wuchereria bancrofti. She was treated with Diethylcarbamazine citrate &amp; made a full recovery with resolution of the nodule. Discussion: We report a rare manifestation of filarial disease as a painless thyroid nodule. Circulating microfilaria reach the thyroid tissue, followed by rupture of vasculature causing local inflammatory reaction and subsequent nodular transformation. Diagnosis presents challenges as the endemic species in India exhibit nocturnal periodicity and it is difficult to find microfilariae in blood and fine-needle aspirates during the day. Case reports of microfilaria in thyroid aspirates from nodules or thyroiditis are rare. Clinical Lesson: The differential diagnosis for a painless thyroid nodule includes possible malignant disease, with the associated stress of further investigation and treatment. However, accurate diagnosis of filarial disease, rare as it may be, even in endemic areas, obviates the need for surgery as evidenced by the resolution of the nodule with medical treatment in our case. Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023

Case Study of a Patient in a Thyrotoxic Phase of Painless Thyroiditis Treated with &lt;italic&gt;Guibiondam-tang-gamibang&lt;/italic&gt;

Objective: This study investigated the effects of &lt;i&gt;Guibiondam-tang-gamibang&lt;/i&gt; on patients in the thyrotoxic phase of painless thyroiditis.Methods: A patient in the thyrotoxic phase of painless thyroiditis was treated with &lt;i&gt;Guibiondam-tang-gamibang&lt;/i&gt; combined with Western medicine (i.e., beta blockers). The effect of treatment was evaluated according to the pulse rate, NRS, the frequency of subjective symptoms, and sleep time. In addition, the thyroid function was evaluated with TSH, Free T4, and T3 using blood tests.Results: After treatment, the pulse rate decreased, and the NRS and frequency of subjective symptoms disappeared after improvement. Sleep time increased. In the thyroid function test, a significant normalization of each value was observed.Conclusion: This study suggests that &lt;i&gt;Guibiondam-tang-gamibang&lt;/i&gt; can be effectively treated in patients with painless thyroiditis in the thyrotoxic phase. However, further studies should be conducted.

Transit analysis of thyroid antibodies in graves' disease following painless thyroiditis: a case report.

Graves' disease and painless thyroiditis induce hyperthyroidism and are manifestations of an immunological disorder; however, their clinical entities differ. This case report illustrates a possible interrelation between the pathogenesis of these two disorders. A 34-year-old woman presented with palpitations, fatigue, and shortness of breath and was initially diagnosed with painless thyroiditis, which spontaneously normalized within 2 months. Within the euthyroid state, there were atypical alterations in thyroid autoantibodies, namely, activation of the thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody and inactivation of thyroid peroxidase and thyroglobulin antibodies. Ten months later, her hyperthyroidism recurred, with this second incidence deemed to be related to Graves' disease. Our patient had two types of painless thyroiditis with no successive hyperthyroidism, followed by Graves' disease, with her clinical manifestation transitioning from painless thyroiditis to Graves' disease over a 20-month period. Future studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms and relationship between painless thyroiditis and Graves' disease.

Abstract #1395500: Silent Thyroiditis as a Complication of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Vaccine

Silent autoimmune thyroiditis, a type of chronic autoimmune thyroiditis, as an adverse effect of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination is infrequently reported in the literature. We hereby describe a case of silent thyroiditis followed by Grave’s orbitopathy after vaccination against SARS-CoV2. An 84-year-old male presented to clinic with a 10-pound weight loss with no other symptoms of hyperthyroidism, no personal history of thyroid illnesses, or recent viral infections. He had normal thyroid function 3 months prior to presentation. He had received 3 doses of SARS-CoV2 Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine with the last dose 5 months prior to presentation. Thyroid exam was normal. Laboratory testing revealed thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level of 0.005 IU/ml (0.45-4.5 IU/ml), total T4 14.4 g/dl (4.5-12.1 g/dl), and total T3 1.22 nmol/l (0.6-1.81 nmol/l). Thyroid Ultrasound revealed a heterogeneous atrophic thyroid gland with no nodules or hypervascularity. He was started on Methimazole by primary care provider. Four months later, he was seen in the Endocrinology clinic and reported no hyperthyroidism symptoms. His TSH level at that time was 65.9 IU/ml, free T4 0.47 ng/dl (normal: 0.82-1.77 ng/dl), total T3 level 75 ng/dl (normal: 71-180 ng/dl), thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin 2.05 IU/l (0-0.55 IU/L), thyrotropin receptor antibody level 2.8 (0-1.75). Methimazole was discontinued. At 6 months after initial presentation laboratory testing showed TSH 5.010 IU/ml, free T4 1.2 ng/dl, thyroid peroxidase antibody of 148 IU/ml (normal 0-34 IU/ml), thyroglobulin antibody 131.6 IU/ml (normal 0.0-0.9 IU/ml). He was diagnosed with silent autoimmune thyroiditis. A few weeks later, the patient presented to an ophthalmologist with bilateral eye bulging and impaired vision. He was diagnosed with acute Graves’ orbitopathy and started on pulse-dose of intravenous Methylprednisolone 250 mg twice daily and urgently referred to a tertiary ophthalmology center for teprotumumab infusion. His thyroid function tests were normal at that time on no thyroid medications. The underlying mechanisms of thyroid impairment following SARS-CoV2 vaccination are not completely understood. There is a role of molecular mimicry between SARS-CoV2 antigens and thyroid antigens that may help to hasten the emergence of autoimmunity in vulnerable individuals. Our patient developed multiple thyroid-related antibodies following vaccination. Silent painless thyroiditis is a self-limiting condition, characterized by temporary thyrotoxicosis, followed by a brief period of hypothyroidism and then a complete return to normal thyroid function. A radioactive iodine uptake scan can help differentiate between the different causes of thyrotoxicosis in the acute thyrotoxic phase. Development of severe Graves orbitopathy following silent autoimmune thyroiditis after SARS COV2 vaccination has not been previously reported.

Painless thyroiditis mimicking relapse of hyperthyroidism during or after potassium iodide or thionamide therapy for Graves' disease resulting in remission.

The diagnosis of painless thyroiditis (PT) during antithyroid drug (ATD) treatment of Graves' disease (GD) is difficult. We evaluated the thyroidal radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) in 100 patients with relapsed thyrotoxicosis during or after careful ATD treatment. The RAIU was <5%/5 h in 35 patients (35%) (Group A - PT), 5%-15%/5 h in 6 patients (6%) (Group B - indefinite) and >15%/5 h in 59 patients (59%) (Group C - relapsed GD [rGD]). TSH receptor antibody (TBII) was positive in 4 (11.4%), 3 (50.0%) and 39 (only 66.1%) patients in Groups A, B and C, respectively. In Group A, the serum fT4 level spontaneously normalized after 35 (26-56) days, sometimes followed by transient hypothyroidism, confirming the diagnosis of PT. Nineteen (54.3%) had been treated with potassium iodide, and PT frequently occurred ironically when the ATD dosage was reduced. PT repeatedly occurred in nine patients. All went into remission smoothly or developed hypothyroidism, except one patient with strongly positive TBII who developed rGD after the resolution of PT (PT on GD). In 10 (50%) of 20 patients with negative TBII despite rGD in Group C, TBII became positive afterwards. In conclusion, it is important to recognize that PT can occur in the clinical course of GD, resulting in frequent remission despite relapse of PT. The thyroid function reflects the balance between the stimulating TBII activity and the responsiveness of the thyroid tissue (sometimes unresponsive and other times autostimulated). The RAIU is still a valuable tool in cases of ambiguous thyrotoxicosis.

The Role of Ultrasound in Thyroid Assessment

The recent prevalence of ultrasonography (US) has facilitated the early detection and qualitative evaluation of thyroid nodules. Furthermore, novel technical developments are extending the application range of US for other thyroid diseases. The use of US to differentiate between thyroid carcinoma and benign nodule, between a metastatic lymph node and a reactive node, between thyroid lymphoma and chronic thyroiditis, and between destruction-induced thyrotoxicosis and Graves’ disease is introduced. Classification systems for thyroid nodule have shown high diagnostic accuracy for thyroid carcinomas except follicular carcinoma. US diagnosis of lymph node metastasis showed high specificity but low sensitivity. Patients who were suspected of thyroid lymphoma based on US findings should undergo incisional biopsy or thyroidectomy for diagnosis of the histologic type if fine needle aspiration biopsy findings suggest lymphoma. Patients should be carefully followed even if they were diagnosed as negative based on cytologic findings. Measurement of thyroid blood flow is helpful for diagnosing destruction-induced thyrotoxicosis, such as painless thyroiditis, by distinguishing the lesion from Graves’ disease. Ultrasonography is useful for diagnosing various thyroid diseases, including thyroid carcinoma. The remaining issue to be resolved is the diagnosis of follicular carcinoma. Trials using novel techniques to differentiate these lesions are expected. Key words: ultrasound, thyroid assessment

Painless Thyroiditis After Covid-19 Vaccination: A case Report

Background: Subacute thyroiditis is an inflammatory disease associated with vaccinations. There have been reports of subacute painful thyroiditis following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. However, only a few cases of painless thyroiditis have been reported and mostly were after mRNA vaccine. The authors presented a case of painless thyroiditis after viral vector SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Case Report: A 60-year-old woman, who had no prior history of thyroid disease, presented with atrial fibrillation and no enlarged thyroid gland or neck pain. She had received ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine from AstraZeneca two weeks prior to the onset of symptoms. Her blood tests revealed primary thyrotoxicosis, and thyroid uptake confirmed thyroiditis. Discussion: Vaccine-induced thyroiditis has been reported in viral vaccines. The pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced thyroiditis is still unknown. It is possible that the immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine will also cross-react and cause thyroiditis. Conclusion: It is possible that SARS-CoV-2 vaccine can cause painless thyroiditis. Keywords: Covid-19; SARS-CoV-2; Thyroiditis; Vaccine

RF35 | PSAT298 Subacute Thyroiditis Following SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccine

Abstract Background In 2011, Shoenfeld and Agmon-Levin described a distinct clinical entity called the autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA). Adjuvants are primarily used in vaccines for directing the adaptive immune response. However, adjuvants sometimes trigger undesirable autoimmune effects, especially in genetically predisposed individuals such as those with DRB1 allele mutations. The mRNA vaccine may exert "self-adjuvant" properties through activation of tumor necrosis factor, interferon-alpha and other cytokines secreted by immune cells or cross reactivity of mRNA targeting CoV-2 spike protein with thyroid tissue antigens. With the recent widespread use of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine, cases of vaccine associated thyroid disorders are becoming more apparent. Case Summary A 45-year-old male with well controlled hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus was evaluated for abnormal thyroid function tests with a TSH of 0.078 uIU/mL and Free T4 of 2.17 ng/dl. He reported a history of Hashimoto's chronic thyroiditis. He received the second dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine one month prior to presentation. He denied any change in the size of his thyroid gland. He also reported no local neck symptoms, dysphagia, odynophagia or change in voice. A nuclear thyroid uptake and scan showed mildly asymmetric thyroid lobes with markedly decreased 24-hour uptake of 0.7%. Based on his clinical presentation, labs and nuclear imaging he was diagnosed with painless thyroiditis. His thyroid function normalized to a TSH of 0.96uIU/ml and Free T4 of 1.29 ng/dl within 2 months without any intervention. There is a strong possibility that the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine accentuated his underlying Hashimoto's chronic thyroiditis enough to cause this transient episode of painless thyroiditis, particularly considering the close interval between the vaccine and onset of his thyroid abnormalities. Conclusion Autoimmune thyroid abnormalities induced by vaccines have been historically associated with protein vaccines for protection from HPV, HBV, seasonal influenza, etc. The spectrum of these disorders can potentially manifest as a transient side effect or even years later with non-specific findings. The SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine may incite similar immunogenicity though yet unestablished, and physicians should be mindful of this phenomenon. Due to limited data, more rigorous studies are needed to fully understand the underlying pathogenesis of thyroiditis following SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in future. As there have been minimal cases of thyroiditis reported, SARS-CoV-2 vaccine should still be strongly recommended. References Bragazzi NL, Hejly A, Watad A, Adawi M, Amital H, Shoenfeld Y. ASIA syndrome and endocrine autoimmune disorders. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2020 Jan;34(1): 101412. doi: 10.1016/j.beem.2020.101412. Epub 2020 Mar 11. PMID: 32265102. Watad A, David P, Brown S, Shoenfeld Y. Autoimmune/Inflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants and Thyroid Autoimmunity. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2017 Jan 24;7: 150. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2016.00150. PMID: 28167927; PMCID: PMC5256113. Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., Monday, June 13, 2022 1:12 p.m. - 1:17 p.m.

Clinical features, treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of allopurinol-induced DRESS in 52 patients.

Allopurinol-induced drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a rare but serious and potentially life-threatening drug hypersensitivity syndrome. In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical features, treatment outcomes, and prognostic factors of allopurinol-induced DRESS. Case reports of allopurinol-induced DRESS published by China from January 2000 to August 2021 were retrieved from CNKI, Wan Fang, VIP, and PubMed databases for analysis. This study included 52 patients, consisting of 41 (78.8%) males and 11 (21.2%) females (M:F=3.7:1). The mean of age was 56.1 ± 17.1 years (range: 18-86 years). The mean of latency periods was 24.6 ± 15.0 days (range:1-63 days). Most patients presented with fever, cutaneous eruption, eosinophilia, lymphadenopathy, and facial edema. 36/52 (69.2%) patients showed two or more internal organs involved. Liver and kidney injuries were the most common visceral manifestation. Pulmonary involvement (34.6%), cardiac involvement (25.0%) and gastrointestinal involvement (21.2%) were relatively less known but severe complications. 2/52 (3.8%) patients showed nervous system involved, presenting as leukoencephalopathy or peripheral neuropathy. 2/52 (3.8%) patients presented with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.1/52 (1.9%) patient developed pure red cell aplasia and 1/52 (1.9%) patient developed painless thyroiditis. HLA*B 58:01 allele was tested in 18/52 (34.6%) patients. 16/18 (88.9%) cases were positive. 48/52 (92.3%) patients were treated with systemic corticosteroids. 16/52 (30.8%) patients were cured, 23/52 (44.2%) patients received partial recovery, and 13/52 (25.0%) patients were died. Septic shock, gastrointestinal bleeding and multiple organ failure were the leading causes of death. Advanced age, underlying cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and high dose of allopurinol, infection and internal organ involvement (including kidney, heart, lung and gastrointestinal tract) were risk factors for death. We explored clinical features, treatment outcomes and prognostic factors of 52 allopurinol-induced DRESS cases in China. Ethnicity, especially Han Chinese, and positive HLA-B*58:01 allele are the clearest risk factors so far. Advanced age, underlying cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and high dose of allopurinol, infection and internal organ involvement (including kidney, heart, lung and gastrointestinal tract) were associated with poorer outcomes. Early identification and discontinuation of the causative drug are crucial to the management of DRESS. For patients with severe disease, corticosteroids are recommended as the first-line therapy. However, further studies are needed to address diagnostic criteria of DRESS for early diagnosis, as well as to develop standardized corticosteroid treatment regimens.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of endocrine-related adverse events associated with interferon.

ObjectivesTo perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of interferon and endocrine side effects, including their incidence, evaluation, and management.MethodsPubMed was searched through March 7th, 2021, by 2 authors independently (LH Wang and H Zhao). Early phase I/II, phase III experimental trials, prospective and retrospective observational studies were included. Stata 16.0 (StataCorp LLC, 16.0) was the main statistical software for meta-analysis. The weighted incidence and risk ratio were estimated for primary thyroid disease and diabetes mellitus.ResultsA total of 108 studies involving 46265 patients were included. Hypothyroidism was the most common thyroid disorder, followed by hyperthyroidism. IFN α+RBV treated patients experienced hypothyroidism in 7.8% (95%CI, 5.9-9.9), which was higher than IFN α (5.2%; 95%CI, 3.7-6.8) and IFN β (7.0%; 95%CI, 0.06-23.92). IFN α+RBV treated patients experienced hyperthyroidism in 5.0% (95%CI, 3.6-6.5), which was higher than IFN α (3.5%; 95%CI, 2.5-4.8) and IFN β (3.4%; 95%CI, 0.9-7.5). The summary estimated incidence of painless thyroiditis was 5.8% (95%CI, 2.8-9.8) for IFN α, and 3.5% (95%CI,1.9-5.5) for IFN α+RBV. The summary estimated incidence of diabetes was 1.4% (95%CI, 0.3-3.1) for IFN, 0.55% (95%CI, 0.05-1.57) for IFN α, 3.3% (95%CI,1.1-6.6) for IFN α+RBV.ConclusionsOur meta-analysis shows a high incidence of endocrine adverse events provoked by IFN, further reinforced by combined RBV treatment.Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42022334131.

Autoimmune and inflammatory thyroid diseases following vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: from etiopathogenesis to clinical management.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic emerged in 2019, several adenoviral-vectored, mRNA-based and inactivated whole-virus vaccines have been developed. A massive vaccination campaign has been undertaken around the world, and an increasing number of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced thyroid diseases have been described in the literature. Subacute thyroiditis has been reported in 52 patients, mean age 45.5 ± 1.8 years, mainly in women (n = 39). Graves’ disease is more frequent in women (n = 22) than in men (n = 10), mean age 46.2 ± 2.6 years, reported as new onset, recurrent or exacerbation of well-controlled hyperthyroidism. The mean time to symptoms onset is 9.0 ± 0.8 days in subacute thyroiditis, and 15.1 ± 2.6 days in Graves’ patients. Rare patients (n = 6) present silent or painless autoimmune thyroiditis. Thyroid function and autoimmune tests, inflammatory markers, thyroid echography with colour flow Doppler, radio-activity uptake on thyroid scan, medical treatment and follow-up are described and compared in patients with SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced thyroid diseases. The underlying pathogenic mechanisms of vaccine-induced thyroid diseases, molecular mimicry (various SARS-CoV-2 proteins sharing a genetic homology with a large heptapeptide human protein) or autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA) are discussed in the context of predisposition or genetic susceptibility. The benefits of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination far outweigh the potential vaccine-induced adverse effects, but clinicians should be aware of possible autoimmune and inflammatory thyroid diseases, and can advise patients to seek medical assistance when experiencing anterior neck pain, fever or palpitations following SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Further studies are warranted to investigate the etiopathogenesis and to clarify the factors which predispose patients to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced thyroid diseases.

Differential Diagnosis of Thyrotoxicosis by Machine Learning Models with Laboratory Findings.

Differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis is essential because therapeutic approaches differ based on disease etiology. We aimed to perform differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis using machine learning algorithms with initial laboratory findings. This is a retrospective study through medical records. Patients who visited a single hospital for thyrotoxicosis from June 2016 to December 2021 were enrolled. In total, 230 subjects were analyzed: 124 (52.6%) patients had Graves’ disease, 65 (28.3%) suffered from painless thyroiditis, and 41 (17.8%) were diagnosed with subacute thyroiditis. In consideration that results for the thyroid autoantibody test cannot be immediately confirmed, two different models were devised: Model 1 included triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (FT4), T3 to FT4 ratio, erythrocyte sediment rate, and C-reactive protein (CRP); and Model 2 included all Model 1 variables as well as thyroid autoantibody test results, including thyrotropin binding inhibitory immunoglobulin (TBII), thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin, anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody, and anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb). Differential diagnosis accuracy was calculated using seven machine learning algorithms. In the initial blood test, Graves’ disease was characterized by increased thyroid hormone levels and subacute thyroiditis showing elevated inflammatory markers. The diagnostic accuracy of Model 1 was 65–70%, and Model 2 accuracy was 78–90%. The random forest model had the highest classification accuracy. The significant variables were CRP and T3 in Model 1 and TBII, CRP, and TgAb in Model 2. We suggest monitoring the initial T3 and CRP levels with subsequent confirmation of TBII and TgAb in the differential diagnosis of thyrotoxicosis.