July - September 2022, Volume 18, Issue 3

Toma L, Zgura A, Isac T, Simu R, Mercan-Stanciu A, Dodot M, Iliescu EL

COVID-19 and the Thyroid Function in Patients with HCV - Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Acta Endo (Buc) 2022, 18 (3): 392-396
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2022.392

Context. COVID-19 is more than a respiratory infection, with deep implications regarding multiple systems and organs. Thyroid damage is frequent in COVID-19 and may overlap previous HCV or HCC associated diseases. Objective. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of COVID-19 in patients with HCV associated HCC and thyroid comorbidities. Design. We performed a retrospective study of the thyroid function tests and autoantibodies in patients with HCV-associated HCC prior and during COVID-19. Subjects and Methods. We included 52 consecutive patients with HCV-associated HCC and documented thyroid disease, diagnosed with COVID -19 between April and October 2020. Serum values of thyroidstimulating hormone, free T3, free T4, anti-thyroglobulin antibodies and anti-thyroid peroxydase antibodies were determined and compared to baseline levels. Results. At baseline, 44 patients had positive antithyroid antibodies, 6 had hypothyroidism in substitution and 2 had hyperthyroidism under treatment. During COVID-19 we found an increase in serum values of antithyroid antibodies, and decreased levels of TSH, freeT3 and freeT4 levels. Specific therapies were discontinued in one patient with hyperthyroidism and 3 patients with hypothyroidism. Conclusion. There is a significant impact of COVID-19 on the thyroid homeostasis; a long-term prognostic value for patients with HCC infected with COVID-19 required further extensive research.

Keywords: COVID-19, hepatitis C chronic infection, hepatocellular carcinoma, autoimmune thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism.

Correspondence: Adriana Mercan-Stanciu, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Department of Internal Medicine II, Bucharest, 022328, Romania. E-mail: adriana.mercan@yahoo.ro