Pulmonary vascular and airway changes in previously hospitalised COVID-19 patients: Long-term functional respiratory imaging findings correlate with reduced DLCO

Ann Mari Svensson, Mikael Björnson, Magnus Sköld, Hans-Ulrich Kauczor, Malin Nygren-Bonnier, Judith Bruchfeld, Michael Runold, Anna Kistner and Sven Nyrén

PLOS ONE, 2025, vol. 20, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: Background: Persistent respiratory symptoms in COVID-19 patients have raised concerns about structural remodelling in the lung. We assessed structural changes and their correlation with reduced DLCO, eight months after discharge, in previously hospitalised COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: An exploratory observational study was conducted on 26 male patients (mean age: 60 years, range: 50–69) previously hospitalised for COVID-19. CT scans, performed eight months post-discharge, were analysed using functional respiratory imaging (FRI) to assess lung structure and function. Analyses were made based on diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO). Results: Patients with low DLCO (≤75%; n = 9) exhibited a significantly lower proportion of small blood vessels with a cross-sectional area 75%; n = 17) (median (IQR) 56 (51–59) % vs. 60 (56–64) %, p = 0.008), as well as a reduced absolute volume of small vessels with a cross-sectional area

Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0335075

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0335075

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