Subacute Thyroiditis After Receiving the Adenovirus-Vectored Vaccine for Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)

Abstract

Since the emergence of the coronavirus disease pandemic, several effective vaccines have been introduced. These vaccines work through several different immunogenic pathways to produce effective immunity. There have been a number of reports of patients developing subacute thyroiditis and thyroid dysfunction after receiving the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine. This paper presents a case of a female patient who developed subacute thyroiditis soon after receiving the adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccine. The patient presented with severe neck pain and her blood results demonstrated an initial thyrotoxic phase followed by a hypothyroid phase. She had no past history of thyroiditis or thyroid dysfunction. Subacute thyroiditis occurring after COVID-19 vaccination is rare but also probably underreported. We hope that this case report not only contributes to the literature but also raises awareness of subacute thyroiditis occurring after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.

Case Report: Two Cases of Subacute Thyroiditis Following SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination

“…Two more cases have been described after vaccination with the mRNA-based Comirnaty (BioNTech, Fosun Pharma, Pfizer, Germany, and USA) ( 9 , 12 ). Very recently Oyibo ( 11 ) presented a case of subacute thyroiditis following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca; Sweden). One of the two cases presented here also developed subacute thyroiditis following the vector-based vaccine Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca; Sweden) while the other case is the first known patient that developed subacute thyroiditis following the mRNA-based vaccine Spikevax (Moderna Biotech, Spain).…”

“…These alterations might be independent of the mechanism of action of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination as described patients received mRNA-based vaccines as well as inactivated SARS-CoV-2 and vector-based vaccines. A possible cross-reactivity between thyroid cell antigens and the spike protein of the coronavirus that is produced by the mRNA vaccines has also been assumed ( 11 , 18 ). Furthermore, development of subacute thyroiditis following other kinds of vaccinations as influenza or hepatitis B has also been rarely described in the literature.…”

“…Next to SARS-CoV-2 infection, cases of subacute thyroiditis following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination have been reported recently (9)(10)(11)(12). Iremli et al (10) reported a small series of three cases that developed subacute thyroiditis following the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine CoronaVac (Sinovac Life Sciences, China).…”

“…Next to several viruses that have been reported as possible causative agents in thyroiditis, the occurrence of subacute thyroiditis has also been described following influenza or Hepatitis B vaccination (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8). Recently, cases of subacute thyroiditis following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination with CoronaVac (Sinovac Life Sciences, China), Comirnaty (BioNTech, Fosun Pharma, Pfizer, Germany, and USA) and Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca; Sweden) have also been described (5,(9)(10)(11)(12).…”

Subacute thyroiditis after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination: a report of two sisters and summary of the literature

“…Oyibo S.O. reports a case of a 55-year-old female with SAT some days subsequent to administration of the adenovirus-vectored COVID-19 vaccine (Oxford-AstraZeneca) [ 5 ]. Tekin et al describe the case of a 67-year-old male patient presenting with SAT several days after receiving the second dose of Coronavac [ 6 ].…”