Coronavirus Disease 2019 and the Thyroid - Progress and Perspectives.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Virology
• Immunology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, poses a significant global health challenge.
• SARS-CoV-2 primarily affects the respiratory system but has been linked to multi-organ damage.
• Emerging clinical evidence indicates that COVID-19 can also impact thyroid function and health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the reported evidence of thyroid alterations associated with SARS-CoV.
• To examine the detailed impact of COVID-19 on thyroid diseases.
• To discuss the potential pathogenetic mechanisms linking coronavirus infections to thyroid dysfunction.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of clinical evidence and case reports.
• Analysis of studies on SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 related thyroid complications.
• Synthesis of findings to explore potential causal links.

Main Results:

• Numerous non-neoplastic thyroid diseases, including Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and various thyroiditis forms, have been reported as complications of COVID-19.
• A strong causal link between SARS-CoV-2 infection and these thyroid conditions is implicated.
• Similar thyroid issues were observed during the earlier SARS-CoV outbreak in 2002.

Conclusions:

• Coronavirus infections, including COVID-19, are strongly associated with a wide spectrum of thyroid diseases.
• The virus is implicated as a potential cause for these thyroidal insults.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the pathogenetic pathways between SARS-CoV-2 and thyroid disease.