Alveolar membrane and capillary function in COVID-19 convalescents: insights from chest MRI

ConclusionImpaired microvascular pulmonary perfusion and alveolar membrane function persisted 12  weeks after symptom onset and resolved within 38 weeks after COVID-19 symptom onset.Clinical relevance statement129Xe MRI shows improvement of microvascular pulmonary perfusion and alveolar membrane function between 11.5  ± 2.7 weeks and 38.0 ± 5.5 weeks after symptom onset in patients after COVID-19, returning to normal in subjects without significant prior disease.Key Points•The study aims to investigate long-term effects of COVID-19 on lung function, in particular gas uptake efficiency, and on the cardiovascular system.•In COVID-19 convalescents, the ratio of129Xe in red blood cells/tissue plasma increased longitudinally (p = 0.04), but was not different from matched controls at follow-up (p = 0.25).•Microvascular pulmonary perfusion and alveolar membrane function are impaired 11.5  weeks after symptom onset in patients after COVID-19, returning to normal in subjects without significant prior disease at 38.0 weeks.
Source: European Radiology - Category: Radiology Source Type: research