Clinical, radiological, and transbronchial biopsy findings in patients with long COVID-19: a case series.

This brief communication demonstrates the correlation of persistent respiratory symptoms with functional, tomographic, and transbronchial pulmonary biopsy findings in patients with COVID-19 who had a long follow-up period. We report a series of six COVID-19 patients with pulmonary involvement who presented with persistent dyspnea within 4-15 months of discharge. We performed transbronchial biopsies, and the histopathological pattern consistently demonstrated peribronchial remodeling with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, lung biopsy may be useful in the approach of patients with long COVID-19, although the type of procedure, its precise indication, and the moment to perform it are yet to be clarified. (Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials-ReBEC; identifier: RBR-8j9kqy [http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br]).

Clinical, radiological, and transbronchial biopsy findings in patients with long COVID-19: a case series / Achados clínicos, radiológicos e de biópsia transbrônquica em pacientes com COVID-19 prolongada: série de casos

ABSTRACT This brief communication demonstrates the correlation of persistent respiratory symptoms with functional, tomographic, and transbronchial pulmonary biopsy findings in patients with COVID-19 who had a long follow-up period. We report a series of six COVID-19 patients with pulmonary involvement who presented with persistent dyspnea within 4-15 months of discharge. We performed transbronchial biopsies, and the histopathological pattern consistently demonstrated peribronchial remodeling with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. Therefore, lung biopsy may be useful in the approach of patients with long COVID-19, although the type of procedure, its precise indication, and the moment to perform it are yet to be clarified. (Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials-ReBEC; identifier: RBR-8j9kqy [http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br])

RESUMO Esta comunicação breve demonstra a correlação de sintomas respiratórios persistentes com achados funcionais, tomográficos e de biópsia pulmonar transbrônquica em pacientes com COVID-19 que tiveram um longo período de acompanhamento. Relatamos uma série de seis pacientes com COVID-19 com acometimento pulmonar que apresentavam dispneia persistente após 4-15 meses da alta. Realizamos biópsias transbrônquicas, e o padrão histopatológico consistentemente demonstrou remodelação peribrônquica com fibrose pulmonar intersticial. Portanto, a biópsia pulmonar pode ser útil na abordagem de pacientes com COVID-19 prolongada, embora o tipo de procedimento, suas indicações precisas e o momento de sua realização ainda não estejam esclarecidos. (Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos - ReBEC; número de identificação: RBR-8j9kqy [http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br])

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TWO ORAL CONTRAST AGENT VOLUMES FOR COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY ENTEROGRAPHY IN CROHN'S DISEASE PATIENTS.

BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by a chronic and recurrent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract caused by an interaction of genetic and environmental factors. OBJECTIVE: To compare the quality and acceptance of two different oral contrast volumes for computed tomography enterography in Crohn's disease patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 58 consecutive Crohn's disease patients who randomly received an oral contrast agent composed of 78.75 g polyethylene glycol diluted in either 1,000 mL or 2,000 mL of water. An examination was performed to evaluate the presence of inflammation or complications in the small bowel. The variables included the quality of intestinal segment filling and luminal distension, and oral contrast agent acceptance and tolerance in the patients. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and association tests. RESULTS: A total of 58 patients were assessed, in which 58.6% were female, 34.5% exhibited clinically-active disease, and 63.8% were receiving biologic therapy. As for comparative analysis between the two different volumes of oral contrast, no statistically significant difference was found regarding bowel loop filling (P=0.58) and adequate luminal distension (P=0.45). Patients who received a larger volume (2,000 mL) exhibited side-effects more frequently (51.7% vs 31.0%; P=0.06) and had greater difficulty ingesting the agent (65.5% vs 37.9%; P=0.07) compared with a volume of 1,000 mL. CONCLUSION: The quality of computed tomography enterography was not influenced by the contrast volume. However, acceptance and tolerance were better in the 1,000 mL group.

Análise comparativa de dois volumes diferentes de agente de contraste oral para enterografia por tomografia computadorizada em pacientes com doença de Crohn / Comparative analysis of two oral contrast agent volumes for computed tomography enterography in crohn's disease patients

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Crohn's disease (CD) is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by a chronic and recurrent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract caused by an interaction of genetic and environmental factors. OBJECTIVE: To compare the quality and acceptance of two different oral contrast volumes for computed tomography enterography in Crohn's disease patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 58 consecutive Crohn's disease patients who randomly received an oral contrast agent composed of 78.75 g polyethylene glycol diluted in either 1,000 mL or 2,000 mL of water. An examination was performed to evaluate the presence of inflammation or complications in the small bowel. The variables included the quality of intestinal segment filling and luminal distension, and oral contrast agent acceptance and tolerance in the patients. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and association tests. RESULTS: A total of 58 patients were assessed, in which 58.6% were female, 34.5% exhibited clinically-active disease, and 63.8% were receiving biologic therapy. As for comparative analysis between the two different volumes of oral contrast, no statistically significant difference was found regarding bowel loop filling (P=0.58) and adequate luminal distension (P=0.45). Patients who received a larger volume (2,000 mL) exhibited side-effects more frequently (51.7% vs 31.0%; P=0.06) and had greater difficulty ingesting the agent (65.5% vs 37.9%; P=0.07) compared with a volume of 1,000 mL. CONCLUSION: The quality of computed tomography enterography was not influenced by the contrast volume. However, acceptance and tolerance were better in the 1,000 mL group.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: A doença de Crohn (DC) é uma doença inflamatória intestinal caracterizada por uma inflamação crônica e recorrente do trato gastrointestinal causada por uma interação de fatores genéticos e ambientais. OBJETIVO: Comparar a qualidade e aceitação de dois volumes diferentes de contraste oral para enterografia por tomografia computadorizada em pacientes com doença de Crohn. MÉTODOS: Um estudo transversal foi conduzido em 58 pacientes com doença de Crohn que receberam aleatoriamente um agente de contraste oral composto por 78,75 g de polietilenoglicol diluído em 1.000 mL ou 2.000 mL de água. Um exame foi realizado para avaliar a presença de inflamação ou complicações no intestino delgado. As variáveis incluíram a qualidade do preenchimento do segmento intestinal e distensão luminal e aceitação e tolerância do contraste oral nos pacientes. A análise estatística incluiu estatística descritiva e testes de associação. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 58 pacientes, dos quais 58,6% eram mulheres, 34,5% apresentavam doença clinicamente ativa e 63,8% estavam recebendo terapia biológica. Quanto à análise comparativa entre os dois diferentes volumes de contraste oral, não foi encontrada diferença estatisticamente significativa em relação ao enchimento da alça intestinal (P=0,58) e distensão luminal adequada (P=0,45). Pacientes que receberam um volume maior (2.000 mL) exibiram efeitos colaterais com mais frequência (51,7% vs 31,0%; P=0,06) e tiveram maior dificuldade para ingerir o agente (65,5% vs 37,9%; P=0,07) em comparação com um volume de 1.000 mL. CONCLUSÃO: A qualidade da entero-tomografia computadorizada não foi influenciada pelo volume de contraste. No entanto, aceitação e tolerância foram melhores no grupo de 1.000 mL.