Evaluation of Subacute Thyroiditis: Frequency, Clinical Manifestation and Laboratory Findings
Abstract Introduction: Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a type of viral thyroiditis, which is often a self-limiting illness, but it causes diagnostic mistakes due to a number of clinical symptoms and leads to inappropriate treatment. In this study, clinical, laboratory and demographic findings of patients have been investigatedMethods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 40 patients (27 female-13 male) with subacute thyroiditis during one year. Data included age, sex, clinical symptoms (fever, sore throat, otalgia, fatigue, sweating ...) and laboratory findings. (ESR, CRP, TSH, T4 and WBC). Their files were extracted and analyzed with SPSS.Results: In this study, 67% of the patients were women with the mean age of 38.48 ± 8.7. Female to male ratio was 2.7 to 1. The most common clinical symptoms were fever (57.5%) and sore throat (55%). Laboratory findings: ESR, TSH,T4 and WBC with average of 67.32, 0.283, 15.368 and 12.456, respectively. CRP positive in 80% of patients who underwent this test. 80 percent of the patients responded to the treatment. The recurrence rate was estimated 42% and 11% for those who received NSAIDs and Prednisolone, respectivelyConclusion: In this study, SAT was most prevalent in women in their fourth decade of life. Clinical symptoms were consistent with most studies in terms of prevalence and incidence. There was no significant association between the age and sex of the patients and their clinical manifestations and laboratory results from laboratory considerations, low concentrations of TSH, high levels of ESR and positive CRP were found to be helpful in diagnosis. Prednisolone proved to be more effective in treating SAT.