title: Evaluation of recurrence in 36 subacute thyroiditis patients managed with prednisolone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is low and there are a few reports of recurrence of subacute thyroiditis. Current treatment protocols for SAT are not uniform. Prednisolone (PSL) is chosen more often for treatment than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This study was undertaken to confirm the recurrence rate of SAT managed by PSL, and to compare the initial laboratory data between the recurrent and the non-recurrent groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  After diagnosis, all patients were treated with PSL (starting at 30 mg or 25 mg per day, tapered by 5 mg per week) for 5 or 6 weeks. We evaluated data and symptoms at the first visit and during the therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-six patients who received only PSL for SAT at our hospital between January 1997 and December 1998 were referred. These patients asked to visit every 2 weeks for the monitoring of symptoms and laboratory data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SAT symptoms recurred in eight patients (22%), most upon cessation of PSL. There was no difference in initial serum sialic acid, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, thyroglobulin, serum free thyroxine and free triiodothyronine before PSL treatment between the recurrent and non-recurrent patient populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The recurrence rate of SAT with treated PSL is about 20%. There was no difference in the laboratory data before starting the therapy between recurrent and non-recurrent groups. Therefore, a modified protocol of PSL administration may be needed to decrease the early recurrent rate of SAT.
authors.affiliation: Noguchi Thyroid Clinic and Hospital Foundation, Beppu.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mizukoshi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Futata
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamashita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000097:blood; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood; D013968:Thyroiditis, Subacute / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood; D014284:Triiodothyronine / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D014284:Triiodothyronine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D013954:Thyroglobulin; D011239:Prednisolone; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D013974:Thyroxine