Subacute Thyroiditis Follow-up
- Author: Mark R Allee, MD; Chief Editor: George T Griffing, MD more...
Further Outpatient Care
- Periodic thyroid function testing is needed to establish the phase of illness and to evaluate the restoration of the euthyroid state.
- Patients who develop permanent hypothyroidism require periodic thyroid function testing with TSH to monitor the supplementation of thyroid hormone.
- No consensus exists regarding the need for periodic testing in patients whose thyroid function has recovered.
Complications
Extensive fibrosis of the gland will result in permanent hypothyroidism in 1-5% of patients with subacute thyroiditis.
Patient Education
For patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Endocrine System Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article Thyroid Problems.
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