Initial treatment combined with Prunella vulgaris reduced prednisolone consumption for patients with subacute thyroiditis.

BACKGROUND

Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is a self-limited disease commonly treated with prednisolone (PSL). The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of the new treatment protocol which consisted of PSL and Prunella vulgaris (PV) to reduce the dosage and incidence of side effects from PSL.

METHODS

Data regarding the patients with SAT treated at the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University between September 2013 and May 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients treated with PSL only or a combination of PSL and PV were divided into two groups.

RESULTS

In total, 87 patients were included. Patients treated with PSL and PV showed a similar remission rate to the patients who received only PSL. The recurrence rate (4.4% vs. 9.5%) and incidence of transient hypothyroidism (2.2% vs. 4.8%) were similar between the two groups (P=0.350 and P=0.517, respectively). Only two cases of a mild skin rash were recorded, and these were related to the use of PV.

CONCLUSIONS

The combination of low-dose PSL as a treatment choice for SAT was both effective and safe.