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. 2022 Sep 1;43(9):978-986.
doi: 10.1097/MNM.0000000000001595. Epub 2022 Jun 23.

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

Buket Caliskaner Ozturk  1 , Ersan Atahan  1 , Ali Kibar  2 , Sait Sager  2 , Sermin Borekci  1 , Bilun Gemicioglu  1
Affiliations

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

Buket Caliskaner Ozturk et al. Nucl Med Commun. .

Abstract

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.

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