Computed Tomography Thorax Patterns in the Patients of Chronic Kidney Disease with Microbiologically Confirmed Coronavirus Disease-2019: An Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: A retrospective study aimed at analyzing the patterns in the CT scans of patients of CKD infected with COVID-19 in the period of two months. We reviewed the CT scans for the pattern of Lung involvement, number of lobe involved, distribution of the lesions and characteristic appearances, along with other coexisting features. Methodology: After consent, we studied the parameters of interest among the patients admitted in the dedicated COVID-19 hospital in Bengaluru, Karnataka, who were admitted during the months of October and November 2020. Each CT scan was reported by in-house radiologist and results were analyzed. Results: We found that of the 92 CKD patients, 51 had got a CT thorax done, out of which 45 had lung parenchymal involvement of COVID-19; of which 44 were bilateral. 26 of the patients had only peripheral lesions and 19 had both central and peripheral distribution. The most common finding was GGOs occurring in 43 of them while 30 of them had GGOs with consolidation. This study shows that the CT patterns in patients of CKD with COVID-19 involves mainly peripheral distribution of lesions with majority involving >2 lobes, with GGOs being most common finding; similar to those without CKD, but the incidence of pleural effusions and mediastinal lymphadenopathy is slightly higher, possibly because of coexistent comorbidities contributing to the same. Conclusion: We conclude that though some patients with CKD and COVID-19 can have a normal lung, the involvement of lungs is more severe and extensive in distribution, implying a more severe involvement of the lung. Hence, further Studies are required on larger population to ascertain the findings and further resources should be allocated for the benefit of this significantly vulnerable patients in this era.