Investigation of the ongoing pulmonary defects with perfusion-single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography in patients under anticoagulant therapy for coronavirus disease 2019-induced pulmonary embolism

Ozturk B. C., ATAHAN E., KİBAR A., Sager S., BÖREKÇİ Ş., GEMİCİOĞLU B.

NUCLEAR MEDICINE COMMUNICATIONS, cilt.43, sa.9, ss.978-986, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 43 Sayı: 9
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1097/mnm.0000000000001595
  • Dergi Adı: NUCLEAR MEDICINE COMMUNICATIONS
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.978-986
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: COVID-19, pandemic, perfusion defect, pulmonary embolism, Q-SPECT, CT, UNPROVOKED VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM, RISK, RECURRENCE, DIAGNOSIS, ACCURACY
  • İstanbul Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objective It was aimed to reveal the continuing perfusion defect rates in patients with a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism (PE) due to COVID-19 who have completed the third month of anticoagulant therapy but whose symptoms or laboratory elevations continue. Methods Patients with COVID-19 who were diagnosed with PE by Q-SPECT-CT between 1 September 2020 and 1 November 2021, who underwent control Q-SPECT/CT were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, laboratory findings, and first and second Q-SPECT/CT evaluation results of the patients were recorded. Results It was observed that the pulmonary defect continued in Q-SPECT/CT in the third month of anticoagulant treatment in 58.3% of the patients diagnosed with PE due to COVID-19, and new defects developed in 6.3%. The persistence rate of segment defects was higher than that of subsegment defects. It was observed that the defects persisted more frequently in patients with a history of hospitalization due to COVID-19. Conclusion Perfusion defects may still be present in patients diagnosed with PE due to COVID-19 in the presence of persistent dyspnea/chest pain/D-dimer elevation after 3 months of treatment. Perfusion defect persistence rates are higher in defects more proximal to the subsegment level and in people with severe COVID-19, and extended treatment should be considered in these patients.