1. Increased Lung Immune Metabolic Activity in COVID-19 Survivors.
- Author
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Rodrigues RS, Motta Ribeiro G, Barreto MM, Zin WA, de Toledo-Mendes J, Martins PAG, de Almeida SA, Basílio R, Martins-Gonçalves R, Hottz ED, Bozza PT, Bozza FA, Carvalho ARS, and Rosado-de-Castro PH
- Subjects
- Adult, Male, Humans, Middle Aged, Female, Fluorodeoxyglucose F18, Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography methods, Inflammation diagnostic imaging, Lung diagnostic imaging, Biomarkers, Survivors, COVID-19 diagnostic imaging, Thrombosis, Pneumonia
- Abstract
Purpose: We quantified lung glycolytic metabolic activity, clinical symptoms and inflammation, coagulation, and endothelial activation biomarkers in 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pneumonia survivors., Methods: Adults previously hospitalized with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia were prospectively included. Subjects filled out a questionnaire on clinical consequences, underwent chest CT and 18 F-FDG PET/CT, and provided blood samples on the same day. Forty-five volunteers served as control subjects. Analysis of CT images and quantitative voxel-based analysis of PET/CT images were performed for both groups. 18 F-FDG uptake in the whole-lung volume and in high- and low-attenuation areas was calculated and normalized to liver values. Quantification of plasma markers of inflammation (interleukin 6), d -dimer, and endothelial cell activation (angiopoietins 1 and 2, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and intercellular adhesion molecule 1) was also performed., Results: We enrolled 53 COVID-19 survivors (62.3% were male; median age, 50 years). All survivors reported at least 1 persistent symptom, and 41.5% reported more than 6 symptoms. The mean lung density was greater in survivors than in control subjects, and more metabolic activity was observed in normal and dense lung areas, even months after symptom onset. Plasma proinflammatory, coagulation, and endothelial activation biomarker concentrations were also significantly higher in survivors., Conclusion: We observed more metabolic activity in areas of high and normal lung attenuation several months after moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. In addition, plasma markers of thromboinflammation and endothelial activation persisted. These findings may have implications for our understanding of the in vivo pathogenesis and long-lasting effects of COVID-19 pneumonia., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest and sources of funding: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest. This work was supported by grants from the D'Or Institute for Research and Education, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (numbers E-26/202.751/2018, E-26/202.785/2017, E-26/203.001/2018, E-26/203.279/2017, and E-26/211.867/2016), and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (numbers 02839/2017-8, 302702/2017-2, and 312410/2017-4)., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2022
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