Correlation between chest CT severity score and laboratory indicators in patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

OBJECTIVE: The association between computed tomography (CT) and clinical severity of COVID-19 has been demonstrated. However, there are few studies on CT and laboratory indicators in patients in COVID-19. Our aim was to explore the correlation between chest CT images and laboratory indicators of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of patients with COVID-19 diagnosed and treated at the Affiliated Hospital of Putian University from 24 January 2020 to 6 March 2020. The correlation test between first chest CT score and blood cell analysis, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), blood biochemistry and T lymphocyte subsets (T-Ls) was investigated. RESULTS: Among the 56 patients, there were 36 (64.3%) males and 20 (35.7%) females. The mean age of the patients was 46.54 ± 15.82 (range, 15-86) years. The CT score in the moderate group was higher than in the mild group (5.06 ± 0.77 vs 1.87 ± 0.88, P < .05), and higher in the severe group than in the moderate and mild groups (10.71 ± 4.21, P < .05). In addition, the ESR was significantly higher in the severe group than mild group (32.00 (26.04, 58.24) vs 11.00 (7.84, 24.70) mm/h, P < .05). The CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD4/CD8 cells were not different (all P > .05). The CT scores of all patients correlated positively with CRP, LDH and ESR (all P < .01). CONCLUSION: The chest CT characteristics of patients with COVID-19 correlated positively with CRP, ESR and LDH, which may use one of the indicators for the assessment of disease severity.

The value of repeated CT in monitoring the disease progression in moderate COVID-19 pneumonia: A single-center, retrospective study.

ABSTRACT: The role of thoracic CT (computerized tomography) in monitoring disease course of COVID-19 is controversial. The purpose of this study is to investigate the risk factors and predictive value of deterioration on repeatedly performed CT scan during hospitalization.All COVID-19 patients treated in our isolation ward, from January 22, 2020 to February 7, 2020, were reviewed. Patients included were categorized into RD (Radiological Deterioration) group or NRD (No Radiological Deterioration) group according to the manifestation on the CT routinely performed during the hospitalization. All clinical data and CT images were analyzed.Forty three patients were included in our study. All are moderate cases with at least 4 CT scans each. Eighteen (42.9%) patients had radiological deteriorations which were all identified in CT2 (the first CT after admission). Patients in RD group had lower leukocyte count (P = .003), lymphocyte count (P = .030), and higher prevalence (P = .012) of elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) at admission. NRD patients had a lower prevalence of reticulations (P = .034) on baseline CT (CT1, performed within 2 days before admission) and a longer duration between symptom onset and the time of CT2 (P < .01). There was no significant difference in hospital stay or fibrotic change on CT4 (follow-up CT scan performed 4 weeks after discharge) between 2 groups. Shorter duration between symptom onset and CT2 time (odds ratio [OR], 0.436; 95% confidence interval: 0.233-0.816; P < .01) and lower leukocyte count in baseline evaluation (OR, 0.316; 95% CI: 0.116-0.859; P < .05) were associated with increased odds of radiological deterioration on CT image during hospitalization.For moderate COVID-19 patients, the value of routinely performed CT during the treatment is limited. We recommend avoiding using CT as a routine monitor in moderate COVID-19 patients.