Subacute thyroiditis - Treatment

Alternative Names

De Quervain's thyroiditis; Subacute nonsuppurative thyroiditis; Giant cell thyroiditis; Subacute granulomatous thyroiditis

Treatment:

The purpose of treatment is to reduce pain and inflammation and treat hyperthyroidism, if it occurs. Anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen are used to control pain in mild cases.

More serious cases may need temporary treatment with steroids (for example, prednisone) to control inflammation. Symptoms of hyperthyroidism are treated with a class of medications called beta blockers (for example, propranolol, atenolol). Antithyroid drugs or thionamides are not effective in treating this condition.

Expectations (prognosis):

The condition should improve on its own. However, the illness may last for months. Long-term or severe complications do not usually occur.

Complications:

Permanent hypothyroidism
Subacute thyroiditis returns after treatment

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if:

You have symptoms of this disorder
You have thyroiditis and symptoms do not improve with treatment

Endocrine glands

Thyroid gland

Reviewed last on: 4/19/2010
Ari S. Eckman, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Brent GA, Larsen PR, Davies TF. Hypothyroidism and thyroiditis. In: Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 12.

Hyperthyroidism

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