Case Control Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2022. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Jan 14, 2022; 10(2): 426-436
Published online Jan 14, 2022. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v10.i2.426
Methylprednisolone accelerate chest computed tomography absorption in COVID-19: A three-centered retrospective case control study from China
Lan Lin, Dan Xue, Jin-Hua Chen, Qiong-Ying Wei, Zheng-Hui Huang
Lan Lin, Dan Xue, Qiong-Ying Wei, Zheng-Hui Huang, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China
Jin-Hua Chen, Department of Medical Administration, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China
Author contributions: Lin L and Huang ZH designed the study and drafted the manuscript; Lin L, Xue D, Wei QY and Huang ZH were responsible for the clinical treatment of patients and conducted the acquisition of clinical data; Chen JH conducted the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data; Chen JH and Huang ZH revised the manuscript for relevant important intellectual content; all authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
Supported by the Fujian Medical University COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment Research Contingency Key Project, No. 2020YJ006; the Science and Technology Program Guided Projects, Fujian Province, China, No. 2020Y0036.
Institutional review board statement: The study was reviewed and approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Fujian Medical University Union Hospital Institutional Review Board (No. 2020KJTXGF001).
Informed consent statement: Patients signed an informed consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest.
Data sharing statement: No additional data are available.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Zheng-Hui Huang, MD, Associate Chief Physician, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, No. 29 Xinquan Road, Gulou District, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China. 13665028181@163.com
Received: August 17, 2021
Peer-review started: August 17, 2021
First decision: November 3, 2021
Revised: November 12, 2021
Accepted: December 2, 2021
Article in press: December 2, 2021
Published online: January 14, 2022
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a pandemic outbreak with a high infection rate, high morbidity and mortality, occupying more public medical resources. Therefore, it is urgent to find effective treatment for COVID-19.

Research motivation

The use of corticosteroids in COVID-19 has been included in World Health Organization guidelines, but still remains controversial.

Research objectives

Examine the efficacy and safety of low-to-moderate dose short-term methylprednisolone on COVID-19 patients.

Research methods

Seventy COVID-19 patients received antiviral therapy with Arbidol for 7-10 d before admission but had no obvious absorption on chest computed tomography (CT) imaging were retrospectively analyzed. Arbidol (as the control group) and methylprednisolone (as the corticosteroid group) were given respectively after admission. After treatment, chest CT was reexamined to evaluate the absorption of pulmonary lesions.

Research results

The degree of CT absorption in the corticosteroid group was significantly better than that of control group (P < 0.05). The average daily dose and course of methylprednisolone in the patients with significant improvement on chest CT was (38.55 ± 13.17) mg and (6.44 ± 1.86) d respectively.

Research conclusions

Low-to-moderate dose short-term methylprednisolone can accelerate the chest CT imaging absorption of COVID-19.

Research perspectives

The protocol has been proven to be effective and safe in clinical use, it can improve the condition, reduce the hospital stay, avoid severe phases and save medical resources.