Table 2.
Treatment efficacy
| Received Therapy | Sustained Pain Resolution | |
|---|---|---|
| Subgroup | No. of Cases/Total No. (%) | No. of Cases/Total No. Received Therapy (%) |
| Drug | ||
| Corticosteroids | 42/58 (72.4%) | 14/42 (33.33%) |
| Route of administration | ||
| Intrathyroidal injectiona | 5/42 (11.9%) | 4/5 (80.0%) |
| Oral | 41/42 (97.6%) | 12/41 (29.3%) |
| Dosage of oral prednisone | ||
| < 25 mg/d | 12/23 (52.2%) | 6/12 (50.0%) |
| 25 to 40 mg/d | 8/23 (34.8%) | 2/8 (25.0%) |
| > 40 mg/d | 3/23 (13.0%) | 0/3 (0.0%) |
| Duration for each episode, mo | ||
| < 1 | 6/29 (20.7%) | 3/6 (50.0%) |
| 1 to 3 | 13/29 (44.8%) | 8/13 (61.5%) |
| > 3 | 10/29 (34.5%) | 1/10 (10.0%) |
| CRP level | ||
| CRP elevated | 13/17 (76.5%) | 4/13 (30.8%) |
| CRP within normal limit | 4/17 (23.5%) | 1/4 (25.0%) |
| ESR level | ||
| ESR elevated | 16/33 (48.5%) | 8/16 (50.0%) |
| ESR within normal limit | 17/33 (51.5%) | 5/17 (29.4%) |
| NSAIDs | 21/58 (36.2%) | 4/21 (19.0%) |
| Levothyroxineb | 26/58 (44.8%) | 9/26 (34.6%) |
| Surgeryc | ||
| Total thyroidectomy | 21/31 (67.7%) | 21/21 (100%) |
| Near total thyroidectomy | 3/31 (9.7%) | 2/3 (66.7%) |
| Subtotal thyroidectomy | 6/31 (19.4%) | 3/6 (50.0%) |
| Partial thyroidectomy | 1/31 (3.2%) | Unknown |
This efficacy analysis shows patients who received treatment that yield sustained pain relief.
Abbreviations: CRP, C-reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
aFour cases had preceding treatment with oral corticosteroids.
bAdministration of levothyroxine in patients without hypothyroidism at the time of initial diagnosis.
cWith or without prior medical treatment.