大多数患者恢复正常的甲状腺功能,但约6%患者仍然是永久的甲状腺功能减退,三分之一患者有持续性甲状腺肿或甲状腺过氧化物酶抗体(TPO)。[35]Nikolai TF, Coombs GJ, McKenzie AK. Lymphocytic thyroiditis with spontaneously resolving hyperthyroidism and subacute thyroiditis: long-term follow-up. Arch Intern Med. 1981;141:1455-1458.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 7283556?tool=bestpractice.com产后复发常见 (69%),[39]Muller AF, Drexhage HA, Berghout A. Postpartum thyroiditis and autoimmune thyroiditis in women of childbearing age: recent insights and consequences for antenatal and postnatal care. Endocr Rev. 2001;22:605-630.http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/edrv.22.5.0441http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11588143?tool=bestpractice.com但也可见于高达 11% 的散发性疾病患者。[35]Nikolai TF, Coombs GJ, McKenzie AK. Lymphocytic thyroiditis with spontaneously resolving hyperthyroidism and subacute thyroiditis: long-term follow-up. Arch Intern Med. 1981;141:1455-1458.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 7283556?tool=bestpractice.com
反复发作的无痛性(淋巴细胞性)甲状腺炎
出现产后甲状腺炎的女性在之后妊娠中发生复发性产后甲状腺炎的风险高 (69%)。[18]Lazarus JH, Ammari F, Oretti R, et al. Clinical aspects of recurrent postpartum thyroiditis. Br J Gen Pract. 1997;47:305-308.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1313006/pdf/9219408.pdfhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9219408?tool=bestpractice.com
多达11%的散发无痛性甲状腺炎患者会有复发性甲状腺炎。[35]Nikolai TF, Coombs GJ, McKenzie AK. Lymphocytic thyroiditis with spontaneously resolving hyperthyroidism and subacute thyroiditis: long-term follow-up. Arch Intern Med. 1981;141:1455-1458.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ 7283556?tool=bestpractice.com尽管这很少发生,这类患者可以选择在甲状腺功能正常的间歇期进行甲状腺放射性碘消融或手术切除。[36]Duick DS. Management of thyrotoxicosis with a low radioactive iodine uptake. Arch Intern Med. 1980;140:469.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7362371?tool=bestpractice.com[37]Ohye H. Recurrent severe painless thyroiditis requiring multiple treatments
with radioactive iodine. Thyroid. 2008;18:1231-1232.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18925835?tool=bestpractice.com
桥本氏(慢性淋巴细胞)甲状腺炎和甲状腺功能减退
有无痛性甲状腺炎的患者更容易在未来发展为永久性甲状腺功能减退症。在一项研究中,一半甲状腺功能恢复正常的 TPO 抗体持续阳性产后甲状腺炎女性在 7 年后发生永久性甲状腺功能减退症。[40]Premawardhana LD, Parkes AB, Ammari F, et al. Postpartum thyroiditis and long-term thyroid status: prognostic influence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies and ultrasound echogenicity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000;85:71-75.http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/jcem.85.1.6227http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10634366?tool=bestpractice.com在一项对产后甲状腺功能异常女性进行的 12 年随访研究中,38% 的女性发生永久性甲状腺功能减退症,而对照组仅为 4%。[41]Stuckey BG, Kent GN, Ward LC, et al. Postpartum thyroid dysfunction and the long-term risk of hypothyroidism: results from a 12-year follow-up study of women with and without posrpartum thyroid dysfunction. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2010;73:389-395.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20184598?tool=bestpractice.com
Graves病
有无痛性甲状腺炎病史的患者却极少发展为Graves病。如患者发生复发性甲状腺功能亢进症,应测定促甲状腺激素受体抗体,或重复测定 4 、6 或 24 小时放射性碘摄取率,并进行甲状腺毒症病因的其他评估。