Background This study evaluated the time course of computed tomography (CT) findings of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia who required mechanical ventilation and were treated with favipiravir and steroid therapy. Results Eleven patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia were included. CT findings assessed at the three time points showed that all patients had ground-glass opacities (GGO) and consolidation and mixed pattern at intubation. Consolidation and mixed pattern disappeared in most of the patients whereas GGO persisted in all patients at 1-month follow-up. In addition to GGO, a subpleural line and bronchus distortion and bronchial dilatation were frequent findings. The degree of resolution of GGO varied depending on each patient. The GGO score correlated significantly with the time from symptoms onset to initiation of steroid therapy ( ρ = 0.707, p = 0.015). Conclusions At 1-month follow-up after discharge, non-GGO lesions were absorbed almost completely, and GGO were a predominant CT manifestation. Starting steroid therapy earlier after onset of symptoms in severe COVID-19 pneumonia may reduce the extent of GGO at 1-month follow-up.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, Favipiravir, Computed tomography, Ground-glass opacities, Manifestations, steroid, 【초록키워드】 Severe COVID-19 pneumonia, therapy, mechanical ventilation, Pneumonia, intubation, discharge, ground-glass opacity, Patient, GGO, Follow-up, consolidation, lesion, symptoms onset, starting, Course, Result, significantly, the patient, addition, evaluated, required, onset of symptom, treated, correlated, reduce, predominant, absorbed, CT finding, patients with COVID-19, subpleural, 【제목키워드】 Coronavirus disease 2019, Pneumonia, treated,