Hypothyroidism following subacute thyroiditis

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Abstract
The occurrence of permanent overt or subclinical hypothyroidism following subacute thyroiditis (SAT) was studied in 32 patients during 0.75-13 yr (mean 4.2 yr) of follow-up. Permanent hypothyroidism developed in 2 patients in whom a characteristic feature was persistence of circulating thyroid antibodies in high titers from the onset of SAT indicating the presence of autoimmune thyroiditis. One also showed cytological evidence of autoimmune thyroiditis. In another patient subclinical hypothyroidism demonstrated by an exaggerated TSH-response to TRH, persisted after hemithyroidectomy during the acute phase. In addtion, transient overt hypothyroidism developed immediately after the acute phase in 3, and subclinical hypothyroidism in 2 patients. Apart from the 2 patients with evidence of autoimmune thyroiditis, circulating thyroid antibodies were found in 15 others. The titers were usually low and disappeared in most cases after a transient rise. Permanent hypothyroidism is likely to develop after SAT only in the presence of autoimmune thyroiditis or after thyroid surgery.

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