Abstract
A 49-year-old man on maintenance hemodialysis for focal glomerulosclerosis developed the symptoms of a common cold. A week later, he presented with swelling of the neck. Measurement of the thyroid hormone levels revealed increased serum levels of free T3 (5.3 pg/mL) and free T4 (1.62 ng/mL), and a decreased serum TSH level (0.021μIU/mL) ; a test for thyroid autoantibodies was negative. Thyroid gland ultrasonography revealed slight swelling and a low-echoic region in the thyroid. On the basis of these findings, we diagnosed the patient as having subacute thyroiditis, and started him on treatment with oral prednisolone (20 mg/day). One week later, the patient's general condition improved, the thyroid hormone levels normalized, and the inflammatory reaction subsided. We were able to control the subacute thyroiditis with an oral steroid on an outpatient basis, without any complications.
