Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: To estimate further results of treatment and outcomes in patients with subacute thyroiditis observed in the period from 1993 to 2005 years.

Materials and methods: 102 patients (84 women, 18 men) with confirmed De Quervain’s subacute thyroiditis (SAT) were investigated and the findings were analysed retrospectively (clinical features, ultrasonography, laboratory tests). Ultrasound device (Hewlett Packard Image Point HX) with 7.5 – 10 MHz. Serum TSH, fT4, fT3, AbTPO were measured with an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay ‘Vitors’.

Results: There were 102 patients in the cohort within the 13-yr period: the female-male ratio was 4.7; aged 40±9.8 yr. A history of upper respiratory tract infection was recorded in the majority of patients 98. Among 102 patients 76 received prednisone therapy. Therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) was therapy for the rest of the patients. 16 patients developed the recurrence (16.3%). SAT recurred during the first year after the treatment in 14 patients. One patient had a clinical diagnosis of recurrence of SAT 4.5 yr after the initial treatment and the other in 10 yr after the initial treatment. Early transient hypothyroidism is common in SAT: 18 patients (18.3%) of 102. Among them 15 received prednisone and 3 received NSAIDs. Permanent hypothyroidism is less common, and only 15 (15.3%) of the patients are receiving T4 therapy after 4 yr of follow-up. Among them 13 received prednisone and 2 received NSAIDs as initial treatment. Increased rate of AbTPO developed in all patients with hypothyroidism.

Conclusion: SAT is more frequently in women than in men. There is an evidence of relation of the disease with upper respiratory tract infection. Permanent hypothyroidism developed in 15 patients and required T4 therapy. The majority of these patients received prednisone as initial treatment. The recurrence of SAT is more likely in the first year after treatment.