Subacute thyroiditis after SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination: A case report

• Published in: Clinical case reports Vol. 12; no. 4; pp. e8678 - n/a
• Main Authors: Akha, Ozra, Mazandarani, Mahdi, Azari, Soroush, Daneshfar, Niloofar, Rasouli, Kimia, Heydari, Keyvan, Tavakolian, Golvash, Hoseini, Aref
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.04.2024; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Case Report; Case reports; COVID-19 vaccines; COVID‐19; SARS‐CoV‐2; Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders; Fever; Gastroesophageal reflux; Life sciences; Neck pain; Oncology; Scintigraphy; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Steroids; subacute thyroiditis; Thyroid gland; Ultrasonic imaging; vaccination; Beijing China; United States > US; China; subacute thyroiditis; case report; COVID‐19; SARS‐CoV‐2; vaccination
• ISSN: 2050-0904; 2050-0904
• DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.8678

Key Clinical Message Subacute thyroiditis which is typically characterized by cervical pain and fever is caused by viral infection and is seen after SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination. Here we report a post‐vaccination subacute thyroiditis after SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination. Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is possibly caused by a viral infection and is typically characterized by cervical pain and fever. SAT associated with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection or SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination has been reported, albeit in limited numbers. A 34‐year‐old woman was referred to our clinic with typical SAT symptoms. The diagnosis was confirmed through thyroid scintigraphy after receiving the SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination, despite testing negative for COVID‐19 via RT‐PCR. There is a theoretical correlation between SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination and SAT. Vaccination may have a direct or indirect impact on the thyroid, but further studies are required to confirm this relationship. A systematic review of the literature of similar cases was performed for comparison. Ultimately, the overall benefits of SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination outweigh the potential adverse effects. Therefore, these types of reports should not divert attention from the actual reality. Thyroid scintigraphy of thyroid in the patient suspecting to SAT.