One-year pulmonary impairment after severe COVID-19: a prospective, multicenter follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Long-term pulmonary sequelae following hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia is largely unclear. The aim of this study was to identify and characterise pulmonary sequelae caused by SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia at 12-month from discharge. METHODS: In this multicentre, prospective, observational study, patients hospitalised for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and without prior diagnosis of structural lung diseases were stratified by maximum ventilatory support ("oxygen only", "continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)" and "invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV)") and followed up at 12 months from discharge. Pulmonary function tests and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), 6 min walking test, high resolution CT (HRCT) scan, and modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale were collected. RESULTS: Out of 287 patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and followed up at 1 year, DLCO impairment, mainly of mild entity and improved with respect to the 6-month follow-up, was observed more frequently in the "oxygen only" and "IMV" group (53% and 49% of patients, respectively), compared to 29% in the "CPAP" group. Abnormalities at chest HRCT were found in 46%, 65% and 80% of cases in the "oxygen only", "CPAP" and "IMV" group, respectively. Non-fibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities, in particular reticulations and ground-glass attenuation, were the main finding, while honeycombing was found only in 1% of cases. Older patients and those requiring IMV were at higher risk of developing radiological pulmonary sequelae. Dyspnea evaluated through mMRC scale was reported by 35% of patients with no differences between groups, compared to 29% at 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: DLCO alteration and non-fibrotic interstitial lung abnormalities are common after 1 year from hospitalization due to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, particularly in older patients requiring higher ventilatory support. Studies with longer follow-ups are needed.

Six-Month Pulmonary Impairment after Severe COVID-19: A Prospective, Multicentre Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND: Long-term pulmonary sequelae following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia are not yet confirmed; however, preliminary observations suggest a possible relevant clinical, functional, and radiological impairment. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify and characterize pulmonary sequelae caused by SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia at 6-month follow-up. METHODS: In this multicentre, prospective, observational cohort study, patients hospitalized for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and without prior diagnosis of structural lung diseases were stratified by maximum ventilatory support ("oxygen only," "continuous positive airway pressure," and "invasive mechanical ventilation") and followed up at 6 months from discharge. Pulmonary function tests and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO), 6-min walking test, chest X-ray, physical examination, and modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnoea score were collected. RESULTS: Between March and June 2020, 312 patients were enrolled (83, 27% women; median interquartile range age 61.1 [53.4, 69.3] years). The parameters that showed the highest rate of impairment were DLCO and chest X-ray, in 46% and 25% of patients, respectively. However, only a minority of patients reported dyspnoea (31%), defined as mMRC ≥1, or showed restrictive ventilatory defects (9%). In the logistic regression model, having asthma as a comorbidity was associated with DLCO impairment at follow-up, while prophylactic heparin administration during hospitalization appeared as a protective factor. The need for invasive ventilatory support during hospitalization was associated with chest imaging abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: DLCO and radiological assessment appear to be the most sensitive tools to monitor patients with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during follow-up. Future studies with longer follow-up are warranted to better understand pulmonary sequelae.

Corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide in acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a single center experience and literature review.

Acute Exacerbation (AEx) is a frequent and severe complication of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF). In the absence of consensus regarding treatment, studies evaluating the efficacy of specific therapies, such as corticosteroids and immunosuppresant agents, are needed. In this case series we evaluated the outcome in terms of survival of intravenous pulse doses of high-dose corticosteroid (methylprednisolone 1000 mg per day for 3 consecutive days) followed by montlhy cyclophosphamide administration (maximum 6 doses) in a cohort of patients with AEx-IPF referred to the Respiratory Unit, San Gerardo University Hospital, Monza, Italy, from 2009 to 2013. A total of 11 patients (7 males, median age 65 years) were enrolled. A median of five monthly pulse doses of cyclophosphamide were administered, with four patients receiving all 6 doses. Four patients died before completion. Three patients developed adverse events. Overall survival at 3 months was 73%, at 6 months 63%, at 12 months 55%, at 18 months 45% and at 2 years 27%. In-hospital mortality was 9%. Causes of death were: six respiratory failures from disease progression, one lung cancer and one breast cancer. Two patients received lung transplantation and were excluded from the Kaplan-Meier analysis. In conclusion, combined intravenous pulse doses of high-dose corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide could be a reasonable add-on therapy for AEx-IPF, considering the few side effects and safe profile. A complete and rapid diagnostic work-up associated to the proper management (e.g. support of respiratory failure with non-invasive ventilation) in the right setting, may also have a positive effect on patients' outcome.