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

J Bras Pneumol. 2022 Apr 29;48(3):e20210438. doi: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20210438. eCollection 2022.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

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]).

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])

MeSH terms

  • Biopsy / methods
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung / pathology
  • Lung Diseases, Interstitial* / pathology
  • Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome