A Prospective Observational Study of 42 Patients with COVID-19 infection and a History of Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Thyroid Disease with Follow-Up Thyroid Function and Autoantibody Testing

• Published in: Medical science monitor 2021-12, Vol.27, p.e935075-e935075
• Main Authors: Cristinel Badiu, Dumitru, Popescu, Gabriel Cristian, Zgura, Anca, Mercan Stanciu, Adriana, Dodot, Mihai Daniel, Mehedintu, Claudia, Toma, Letitia, Razvan, Simu, Bacinschi, Xenia, Haineala, Bogdan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Clinical Research; COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 - virology; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hepacivirus - pathogenicity; Hepatitis C - complications; Hepatitis C - virology; Humans; Hypothyroidism - etiology; Hypothyroidism - physiopathology; Hypothyroidism - virology; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; RNA, Viral; Romania - epidemiology; SARS-CoV-2 - immunology; SARS-CoV-2 - pathogenicity; Thyroid Diseases - physiopathology; Thyroid Function Tests; Thyroid Gland - physiology; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune - blood; Thyroiditis, Autoimmune - immunology; Thyrotropin - blood; Thyroxine - blood; Triiodothyronine - blood
• ISSN: 1643-3750; 1234-1010; 1643-3750
• DOI: 10.12659/MSM.935075

BACKGROUND Thyroiditis is an important extrahepatic association in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. There have been reports of an association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the onset or re-activation of autoimmune hypothyroidism. Therefore, we performed this prospective observational study of 42 patients with COVID-19 infection and a history of hepatitis C virus infection and thyroid disease with follow-up thyroid function and autoantibody testing. MATERIAL AND METHODS From April 2020 to October 2020, we performed a prospective observational study of patients with cured hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and documented thyroid disease who became infected with SARS-CoV-2 (confirmed by SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection via reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCT] from the upper respiratory tract, both nasal and pharyngeal swabs). Evaluation at 1 and 3 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection included serum determination of antithyroid antibodies (anti-thyroglobulin [anti-Tg] and antithyroid peroxidase [ATPO]), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (fT4), free triiodothyronine (fT3), and evaluation of thyroid medication, with dose adjustment if required. RESULTS One-month follow-up showed that both patients with autoimmune thyroiditis as well as patients without antibodies had increased ATPO levels. Also, levels of TSH, fT3, and fT4 were significantly decreased. At 3-month follow-up, levels of ATPO were decreased in all patient groups and the levels of thyroid hormones increased to normal values. CONCLUSIONS This study supports previous reports of an association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and thyroid dysfunction associated with thyroid autoantibodies. Thyroid function tests may be considered as part of the laboratory work-up in patients with COVID-19.