Correlation of high-resolution CT, symptoms, and pulmonary function in patients during recovery from severe acute respiratory syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known of the nature of the recovery period after severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) infection. We hypothesized that structural changes of the lung might correlate with symptoms and pulmonary function. To answer this question, we correlate findings of high-resolution CT (HRCT) with dyspnea scores and results of pulmonary function tests in patients during recovery from SARS.


METHODS
Retrospective follow-up cohort study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Nineteen patients who recovered from SARS-related hospitalization.


METHODS
The study included HRCT scores (0 to 100), dyspnea scores (1 to 4), static and dynamic lung volumes, and diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO).


RESULTS
The interval between hospital discharge and HRCT study or functional assessment was 31.2 +/- 4.8 days (range, 25 to 38 days) [mean +/- SD]. All patients had HRCT abnormalities and were assigned to two groups: ground-glass opacity (GGO) only (n = 7, 36.8%) and GGO with fibrosis (GGO+F) [n = 12, 63.2%]. Most patients (16 of 19, 84.2%) had no zonal predominance. HRCT scores correlated well with dyspnea scores (r = 0.78, p < 0.01) and with a variety of pulmonary functional variables, with DLCO being the most significant (r = - 0.923, p < 0.001). Compared with the GGO group, the GGO+F group showed significantly lower FEV(1), FVC, total lung capacity, residual volume, and DLCO.


CONCLUSIONS
HRCT findings correlate well with functional studies and clinical symptoms during recovery from SARS. Longer-term follow-up studies in a larger cohort of patients should be performed to investigate the clinical outcome of recovered SARS patients.
Hsu
Hsian-He
HH
Department of Radiology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China. hsianhe@yahoo.com.tw
Tzao
Ching
C
Wu
Chin-Pyng
CP
Chang
Wei-Chou
WC
Tsai
Chen-Liang
CL
Tung
Ho-Jui
HJ
Chen
Cheng-Yu
CY
D000328:Adult; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed