Management of thyroid disorders during the COVID-19 outbreak: a position statement from the Thyroid Department of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SBEM)

Bibliographic Details
Title: Management of thyroid disorders during the COVID-19 outbreak: a position statement from the Thyroid Department of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism (SBEM)
Authors: João Roberto M. Martins, Danilo G. P. Villagelin, Gisah A. Carvalho, Fernanda Vaisman, Patrícia F. S. Teixeira, Rafael S. Scheffel, José A. Sgarbi
Source: Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 65, Iss 3, Pp 368-375 (2021)
Publisher Information: Brazilian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2021.
Publication Year: 2021
Collection: LCC:Medicine
LCC:Diseases of the endocrine glands. Clinical endocrinology
Subject Terms: Thyroid disorders, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, subacute thyroiditis, COVID-19, Medicine, Diseases of the endocrine glands. Clinical endocrinology, RC648-665
More Details: ABSTRACT This position statement was prepared to guide endocrinologists on the best approach to managing thyroid disorders during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The most frequent thyroid hormonal findings in patients with COVID-19, particularly in individuals with severe disease, are similar to those present in the non-thyroidal illness syndrome and require no intervention. Subacute thyroiditis has also been reported during COVID-19 infection. Diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism during the COVID-19 pandemic may follow usual practice; however, should avoid frequent laboratory tests in patients with previous controlled disease. Well-controlled hypo and hyperthyroidism are not associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection or severity. Newly diagnosed hyperthyroidism during the pandemic should be preferably treated with antithyroid drugs (ATDs), bearing in mind the possibility of rare side effects with these medications, particularly agranulocytosis, which requires immediate intervention. Definitive treatment of hyperthyroidism (radioiodine therapy or surgery) may be considered in those cases that protective protocols can be followed to avoid COVID-19 contamination or once the pandemic is over. In patients with moderate Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO) not at risk of visual loss, glucocorticoids at immunosuppressive doses should be avoided, while in those with severe GO without COVID-19 and at risk of vision loss, intravenous glucocorticoid is the therapeutic choice. Considering that most of the thyroid cancer cases are low risk and associated with an excellent prognosis, surgical procedures could and should be postponed safely during the pandemic period. Additionally, when indicated, radioiodine therapy could also be safely postponed as long as it is possible.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 2359-4292
2359-3997
Relation: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2359-39972021000300368&tlng=en; https://doaj.org/toc/2359-4292
DOI: 10.20945/2359-3997000000352
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/743719b14a17484e97bec1ac2c47674a
Accession Number: edsdoj.743719b14a17484e97bec1ac2c47674a
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:23594292
23593997
DOI:10.20945/2359-3997000000352
Published in:Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Language:English