title: Thyroiditis de Quervain. Are there predictive factors for long-term hormone-replacement?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Subacute thyroiditis is a usually self-limiting disease of the thyroid. However, approximately 0.5-15% of the patients require permanent thyroxine substitution. Aim was to determine predictive factors for the necessity of long-term hormone-replacement (LTH).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the records of 72 patients with subacute thyroiditis. Morphological and serological parameters as well as type of therapy were tested as predictive factors of consecutive hypothyroidism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 49 ± 11 years, f/m-ratio was 4.5 : 1. Thyroid pain and signs of hyperthyroidism were leading symptoms. Initial subclinical or overt hyperthyroidism was found in 20% and 37%, respectively. Within six months after onset 15% and 1.3% of the patients developed subclinical or overt hypothyroidism, respectively. At latest follow-up 26% were classified as liable to LTH. At onset the thyroid was enlarged in 64%, and at latest follow-up in 8.3%, with a significant reduction of the thyroid volume after three months. At the endpoint the thyroid volume was less in patients in the LTH group compared with the non-LTH group (41.7% vs. 57.2% of sex-adjusted upper norm, p = 0.041). Characteristic ultrasonographic features occurred in 74% of the patients in both lobes. Serological and morphological parameters as well as type of therapy were not related with the need of LTH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study the proportion of patients who received LTH was 26%. At the endpoint these patients had a lower thyroid volume compared with euthyroid patients. No predictive factors for LTH were found.
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Klinikum Hanau, Germany. simoneschenke@web.de
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Schenke
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Klett
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Braun
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Zimny
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013966:Thyroiditis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D013963:Thyroid Hormones