PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Paula Copil
AU  - Claudia Toma
AU  - Stefan Dumitrache-Rujinski
AU  - Tudor Constantinescu
AU  - Ionela Belaconi
AU  - Catalina Ene
AU  - Inna Ruseva
AU  - Cicerone Iordache
AU  - Eddan Athir
AU  - Roxana Nemes
TI  - Improvement in SARS-CoV2 lung interstitial injuries with systemic corticosteroid treatment
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.PA2534
DP  - 2021 Sep 05
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - PA2534
VI  - 58
IP  - suppl 65
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/PA2534.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/PA2534.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2021 Sep 05; 58
AB  - Introduction: Currently, more than 106 million people have been infected with the new Coronavirus. The clinical course of infection is very variable, from asymptomatic to severe pneumonia. We already know that are persistent inflammatory interstitial lung injuries following SARS-CoV2 infection, but it remains unknown if it will progress to persistent lung fibrosis.Aim of the study: To determine if the persistent inflammatory interstitial lung disease after SARS-CoV2 pneumonia evolve to lung fibrosis and to establish the efficacy of oral Methylprednisolone therapy on clinical symptoms, extension of HRCT lesions, and pulmonary function tests.Contents: We evaluate 80 patients with moderate and severe pneumonia due to SARS-CoV2 infection at 6 weeks after discharge from COVID-19 unit and at 3 months intervals in the 1st year. HRCT and pulmonary function tests (TLC and Dlco) were performed. Of these 80 patients, 54 were diagnosed with persistent inflammatory interstitial lung injuries associated with a decrease in DLco and or lung volumes and received oral corticoid treatment with methylprednisolone with tapering doses for one and a half to 3 months, depending on the extension of interstitial lesions on HRCT and/or decrease of DLco. 35 patients had good response on clinical symptoms, extension of HRCT lesions, and improvement of DLco and 19 patients had a mild response.Conclusions: Persistent inflammatory interstitial lung disease associated with persistent physiological and functional deficit post SARS-CoV2 moderate or severe pneumonia are common. Significant improvement in symptoms, extension of HRCT lesions, and improvement in DLco was seen with Methylprednisolone treatment.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA2534.This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).