Yet another organ seems to be affected by a bout of COVID-19: the thyroid.
Italian researchers have examined the thyroids of dozens of patients who’ve recovered from moderate-to-severe cases of COVID-19. The study found evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infection may trigger an inflammation of the gland in some patients.
Whether that inflammation can cause long-term dysfunction is still unclear, however.
“After three months, patients’ thyroid function has normalized, but signs of inflammation were still present in about one-third of patients,” study lead researcher Dr. Ilaria Muller, of the University of Milan, said in a news release from The Endocrine Society. Her team presented their findings Monday at the virtual annual meeting of The Endocrine Society.
