Thyroid sequelae of COVID-19: a systematic review of reviews

In March 2020, WHO declared the pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [1]. Since then, about 111 million cases and 2.5 million deaths from SARS-CoV-2 were reported until February 2021 [2]. What has been shocking for the whole medical scientific community is that SARS-CoV-2 has a wide spectrum of clinical severity, ranging from a- or pauci-symptomatic presentation to disease-specific mortality [3]. COVID-19 has the potential to cause upper respiratory tract, pulmonary and systemic inflammation, determining multi-organ dysfunction especially in frail patients [4]. These latter are also at higher risk of COVID-19 specific death. Among the various clinical effects of SARS-CoV-2, the endocrine ones have been investigated. Importantly, diabetic patients were proven to be at higher risk for infection and poorer prognosis when infected [5]. Moreover, treatment modifications are required as a consequence of COVID-19 in patients affected by endocrine diseases, such as diabetes, adrenal insufficiency, hypo- or hyper-natraemia [5, 6]. In addition, the impact of COVID-19 on thyroid gland has been described by direct or indirect effect [7].

In the thyroid field many original papers, several case reports, and some recommendations by endocrine societies on the impact of COVID-19 have been published. Furthermore, a not negligible number of narrative and systematic review articles on this topic have been conducted. Overall, although several clues would suggest a possible relationship between thyroid gland and SARS-CoV-2, and even if the presence of the receptor for SARS-CoV-2 entry (i.e., angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 [ACE-2]) in thyroid cells has been proven [8, 9], which thyroid consequences can be observed in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 remains to be fully clarified.

The present study was conceived to provide more solid information about three specific items: 1) which thyroid disease or dysfunction can be expected in COVID-19 patients; 2) whether thyroid patients have a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection; 3) whether the management has to be adapted in thyroid patient when infected by SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, it was designed a systematic review of reviews published on this topic, the conclusions of the retrieved articles were summarized, and the summary of findings discussed.

With the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic, we faced a tsunami of publications. This is true also for the endocrine and thyroid field. However, after one year since the WHO declaration of pandemic, we should need taking stoke of the situation. We have several clues that SARS-CoV-2 can have effects on the thyroid gland. High levels of expression of ACE2 receptor and transmembrane protease serine 2 have been found in thyroid cells [8, 9], abnormal immune responses and cytokine storm associated to COVID-19 may induce thyroid gland inflammation [9, 19], and both direct and indirect mechanisms might affect hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis [20‐24].

Based on the above evidences, and according to the sparse knowledge on this topic, a systematic review was designed and a number of nine reviews focused on the relationship between thyroid and SARS-CoV-2 were retrieved. Unfortunately, among the reviews included seven, were narrative reviews that do not represent an evidence-based information as the systematic ones well. Regarding the first question of the present review, the pooled findings from the included reviews allow us to conclude as follows. A subject diagnosed with COVID-19 can: 1) develop thyroid dysfunction due to direct and indirect damage on the thyroid gland; 2) have a low-T3 syndrome if hospitalized due to severe COVID-19 infection; 3) eventually develop SAT. In the nine reviews we did not find clear data allowing to establish the real prevalence of these scenarios. Concerning the other two questions we raised with this review, we can conclude that having a thyroid disease does not represent a risk for infection of SARS-CoV-2 and does not require specific recommendations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically influenced our daily life and has abruptly shifted the medical research. Furthermore, we have faced a huge medical information, also in the thyroid field, that was often conflicting with each other [25]. Following these considerations, the results from the present paper should be discussed with caution and with the aim to provide further insights from a clinical point of view. It is recognized that patients with severe systemic disease generally show altered thyroid laboratory tests [26]. Also, it is known that patients in the intensive care unit typically present with decreased tri-iodothyronine, low thyroxine, and normal range or slightly decreased TSH (i.e., non-thyroidal illness syndrome or low-T3 syndrome), even if no proof exists for causality of this association [27]. Furthermore, it is known that thyroid hormones levels can hold a role to predict a worse prognosis in these patients [27]. The larger part of studies investigating thyroid function in COVID-19 patients enrolled critically ill subjects. Then, it should be not surprising that also COVID-19 patients present with this thyroid hormone profile, which should not be specifically ascribed to COVID-19. A certain role for systemic inflammation might also be envisaged. Indeed, the cytokine storm occurring during SARS-CoV-2 infection often results in an uncontrolled inflammatory response that is detrimental to host cells [17, 22]. As far as the thyroid gland is concerned, it should be highlighted that several models, including the chronic low-level inflammation associated with aging, the so-called “inflammaging” [28], and the oxidant/antioxidant imbalance associated with thyroid chronic inflammation [29], proved to have a role in the pathogenesis of thyroid diseases. From this point of view, there is potential to consider a thyroid role in the long-term effects of COVID-19.

In addition, it has to be taken into account that the evaluation of thyroid function in COVID-19 patients can be influenced by a number of the medications received [30]. Heparin has been largely used in COVID-19 patients and it is known to interfere in free thyroid hormones assays. In fact, heparin liberates lipoprotein lipase from the vascular endothelium, and blood samples from heparin-treated patients have increased lipoprotein lipase activity generating non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Free thyroid hormone assays, especially those with prolonged incubation periods, are affected since NEFA displace T4 and T3 from binding proteins, causing spuriously high values [31]. Patients with severe COVID-19 can develop a systemic inflammatory response and corticosteroids have been largely used because of their powerful anti-inflammatory effects. However, corticosteroids can influence thyroid laboratory tests by several pathways: act on hypothalamic-pituitary control on the thyroid reducing TSH, reduce levels of thyroxine-binding globulin and increase free T4, and inhibit thyroid hormone activation (i.e., conversion from T4 to T3). Finally, it cannot be excluded that COVID-19 patients have been exposed to multiple chest iodinated contrast-enhanced computed tomography which can obviously determines a transient thyrotoxicosis.

Some considerations on the possible occurrence of SAT in patients experiencing COVID-19 should be drawn. Indeed, these descriptions mainly rely on case reports [7]. As a consequence, there is no definite proof about this possible COVID-19 complication, and the true frequency of SAT among COVID-19 is unknown. SAT might occur a few weeks after a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, and then it might be a late complication of COVID-19. Here we systematically reviewed all reviews published on the relationship between thyroid and COVID-19. The nine reviews we included in our study were published between June 2020 and February 2021 and more recent original studies were not included. Then, some conclusions we achieved might be changed. Regarding the possible need to adapt the management of thyroid patients when infected by SARS-CoV-2, even if we did not find strong information, it has to be cited the recent bulletin by European Thyroid Association [32] quoting that no consequences have to be expected in patients receiving treatment for hypo- or hyperthyroidism [33, 34].

The present systematic review has some limitations to be disclosed. First, published data on the relationship between thyroid and SARS-CoV-2 are limited and sparse. Second, we found almost only narrative reviews that do not represent an evidence-based information. Third, the COVID-19 pandemic is still going on and data we found in the reviews should be revised in the next studies.

In conclusion, the present systematic review of reviews found that: 1) patients diagnosed with COVID-19 can develop thyroid dysfunction, frequently non-thyroidal illness syndrome when hospitalized in intensive care unit, 2) having a thyroid disease does not increase the risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection, 3) thyroid patients do not need a COVID-19-adapted follow-up. Anyway, it has to be taken into account that several COVID-19 intrinsic factors, such as critical illness and medications, could affect thyroid laboratory tests. Since the rapid worldwide diffusion of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants, it is highly important to annotate that the summary of findings of the present study might change in the next future.