Coronavirus and thyroid patients - an article from a Hungarian doctor

[Hypothyroid-Marvin]

A recently published article by a Hungarian doctor. Apologies for anything lost in translation.

Coronavirus is also extremely dangerous for thyroid patients - What can be done according to a doctor?

Prof. Dr. Balázs Csaba 2020.04.11. Source: Buda Endocrine Centre

femina.hu/egeszseg/pajzsmir...

Coronavirus is the most dangerous for the elderly and those with diseases - does the latter group include decreased thyroid function?

It is a common question among patients whether decreased thyroid function also means increased susceptibility to the COVID-19 virus.

With regard to the coronavirus epidemic, it is no coincidence that anyone who can should stay at home: anyone can catch the virus, but it is most dangerous for the elderly and sick people with weak immune systems, so they need to be extra careful to keep their distance.

Is the virus a threat to thyroid patients?

The short answer is yes, if the patient with hypothyroidism, has not been well treated.

Thyroid hormones, T4 and T3, are vital to the functioning of the immune system. Therefore, it is understood that the frequency and severity of infections were also significantly higher among patients with hypothyroidism. This is also supported by international observations and reports on viral infections.

Function can be restored with proper replacement

SA Sebastian and colleagues studied 159 patients with retroviral infections and found that the incidence of a subclinical hypothyroidism was high and influenced by each other. A low immune defense along with a higher TSH level. A large number of other observations are to be understood, so that in the absence of T4 and T3 hormones, the body's immunity can be significantly reduced.

Previous experimental data have shown that the function of cells at the forefront of defence, called polymorphonuclear granulocytes - PMN - is reduced in patients, but with adequate replacement, normal function has been restored.

The function of PMN cells was also measured based on their ability to emit light, and an increase in cell function was observed in the presence of the hormone T3. Subsequently, the function of immune cells, the so-called lymphocytes, which indicate the degree of cellular immunity, was also tested, and a clear increase in function could be detected.

What follows from this data?

Susceptibility to infection is significant in patients with impaired thyroid function. It is therefore important to ensure that those concerned do not stop the thyroxine supplementation they have started, and even to increase the daily dose slightly if necessary and to supplement it with vitamin D3, of which 3000-4000 IU per day is necessary for proper functioning.

[greygoose]

Makes sense to me. Before I was optimally medicated, I used to catch everything going. I always had a cold or a cough, or something. Now, it's rare. Thanks for posting.

[Hypothyroid-Marvin in reply to greygoose]

I need to follow your polite protocol and reply: You’re welcome! 😊

[jgelliss]

This is so amazing and makes total sense . Thank You for sharing.

[Hypothyroid-Marvin in reply to jgelliss]

I am pleased that you found the article useful and interesting.

It may not be sensational or innovative news, but it is backed up with real scientific research, and I hope it is clear to understand.

[jgelliss in reply to Hypothyroid-Marvin]

I was also able to read parts of the original article and understand it. It bought back memories. Thank You .

[vocalEK in reply to jgelliss]

Hmm. I'm half Hungarian. My father was born in Szatmárnémeti which after WWI became part of Romania (Satu Mare). I only know a word or two of Hungarian, so the article would be very much above my head. But it sounds like I might have some relatives on here

[jgelliss in reply to vocalEK]

That is so interesting . I heard of Szatmár some of my relatives came from there too. Though my family was from Hungry . My sisters where born their too . Hungarian was spoken at home . Nice to meet another Hungarian .

[Swannybird]

One thinks the Doctors should read this as they really don’t understand much about the issues apart from, let’s get you on this drug, your bloods are coming back as normal, no there is no other approach.

Thanks for posting I found it informative

[Marz]

When you read how many deaths in Italy were the elderly and those with diabetes and raised blood pressure - it begs the question - how many had undiagnosed thyroid issues - sigh ...

[Polly91 in reply to Marz]

Very interesting article.

Marz do you have any data on incidence of diabetes and hypertension in the Italian covid 19 population ?

Thanks.

[Marz in reply to Polly91]

Yes I do. Well documented on US websites - Greenmedinfo and Mercola.com and of course others if you look around.

An Italian body looked into the medical records of those that had died. 99% had one or two conditions and 50% of those had three to four underlying conditions.

Gov.uk publish deaths in UK of all known causes - slightly up in Jan 2020 v 2019 - down in February and March figures due - I need to check ...

[Polly91 in reply to Marz]

Thank you Marz. It’s v interesting as vitamin C and glucose compete for insulin so maybe it’s not surprising that diabetic patients fare worse as their immune systems will struggle with depleted vitamin C levels.

Thanks again

[Hidden]

Thanks for posting this, it confirms what I've suspected for awhile, that one must have adequate thyroid hormone levels for one's immune system to work properly.

I think there's an added problem for those of us on T3 only. If our TSH is suppressed as it usually would be on T3 only, our body is totally reliant on that T3 dose. If we need more due to having an infection, we can't magically make any more, we need to physically take it. This could theoretically leave our bodies short of having enough. Worse still if you end up on a ventilator, would one even get any T3? Even if doctors know it's what you take, how do we know for sure we'd get it, and not Levothyroxine, with the mistaken belief our bodies would convert it?

[Gcart]

Just to say when I was in hospital a few months ago for something unrelated they allowed me to dose my own T3 as per usual .