A groundbreaking study has found that children and teenagers suffering from long COVID exhibit significant lung abnormalities, as detected through an advanced form of MRI known as free-breathing phase-resolved functional lung (PREFUL) MRI. The study, published in Radiology, highlights a potential non-invasive method to assess lung function in pediatric patients with post-COVID condition (PCC).
Challenges in Diagnosing Lung Issues in Kids
Unlike adults, children with persistent post-COVID symptoms rarely undergo chest scans due to concerns about radiation exposure and the need for contrast agents in CT scans. Instead, doctors rely on pulmonary function tests and echocardiography, which often yield normal results despite ongoing symptoms. This makes diagnosing lung complications in children with long COVID particularly challenging.
PREFUL MRI, however, offers a radiation-free, contrast-free alternative for assessing lung function in children. In this study, 54 participants (27 with long COVID and 27 healthy controls) underwent PREFUL MRI between April 2022 and April 2023. Researchers analyzed oxygen flow, blood circulation, and ventilation-perfusion ratios to detect abnormalities.
Lung Damage Linked to Chronic Fatigue
The results showed that children with long COVID had measurable lung injuries that correlated with their symptoms. Notably, greater lung perfusion issues were linked to increased chronic fatigue, while ventilation-perfusion mismatches were associated with higher heart rates.
“Our research provides the first comprehensive evidence of measurable regional lung perfusion abnormalities in pediatric post-COVID-19 cases using radiation-free, contrast-free lung imaging,” said Dr. Gesa H. Pöhler, senior physician at Hannover Medical School and lead author of the study.
A Tool for Monitoring Long COVID Recovery
Researchers believe PREFUL MRI could serve as a valuable tool for tracking disease progression and recovery in children with long COVID. By providing quantitative imaging data, it may help doctors monitor lung function over time and guide treatment strategies.
The study concludes by calling for larger, multi-center studies to validate these findings and assess long-term lung changes in children recovering from COVID-19. As long COVID remains a complex and poorly understood condition, research like this plays a crucial role in improving diagnosis and care for affected children.
Source: Stephanie Soucheray, MA – Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), University of Minnesota.
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