ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

Association of Chest CT Score During Acute COVID-19 Illness with Subsequent Lung Function Loss Among Lung Transplant Patients

Q. M. Halverson, K. Batra, L. D. Mahan, M. Mohanka, A. C. Lawrence, J. Joerns, S. Bollineni, V. Kaza, I. L. Timofte, C. D. Kershaw, L. C. Terada, F. Torres, A. Banga

University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX

Meeting: 2022 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 1485

Keywords: COVID-19, Morbidity, Radiologic assessment

Topic: Clinical Science » Lung » 64 - Lung: All Topics

Session Information

Session Name: Lung Transplantation

Session Type: Poster Abstract

Date: Monday, June 6, 2022

Session Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm

 Presentation Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm

Location: Hynes Halls C & D

*Purpose: Limited data exists on CT chest abnormalities during acute Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and associated post-illness loss of lung function among lung transplant (LT) patients.

*Methods: The institutional database was interrogated for any LT patient diagnosed with COVID-19 during a one-year period (March 2020 to Feb 2021; n=54). 44 patients with acute COVID-19 were alive at 3-month follow up (COVID-survivors: 81.5%). Of the survivors, 34 had a CT chest during the first two weeks of acute illness. A validated CT score was used to quantify the parenchymal abnormalities due to COVID-19. Each lung was divided into 10 separate regions which were scored 0-2 based on the severity and extent of parenchymal opacification (maximum score per lung=20). To avoid confounding from underlying lung disease, only the allograph was assessed in single LT. The average score of both lungs was calculated in bilateral LT. The primary outcome measure was sustained decline of FEV1 or FVC >10% from pre-infection spirometry.

*Results: Abnormal CT score and lung opacities on CT chest were nearly ubiquitous during acute COVID-19 illness (>0; 36/37, 97.3%, median score with IDR: 7.25, 4.625-10.125). The lower lobes (LL) were more affected by COVID-19 than the upper and middle lobes (UML) (median CT score in LL: 4, 2.75-6 vs 3.5, 1.25-5 in UML). A >10% decline in FEV1 or FVC was common after COVID-19 pneumonia (38.2%). The overall CT score correlated with amount of lung function loss (r=0.36, p=0.03) although the association was modest and limited to regions reflecting the UML. On ROC curve, CT score was modestly predictive of lung function decline (Fig 1). CT score from UML had the highest area under the curve (78.2%, 61.1-95.4%; p=0.006) with a score of 4.5 being the best cut-off (sensitivity 71%, specificity 85% for post-COVID lung function loss >10%). An UML CT score >4.5 was strongly associated with respiratory failure during acute illness (69% vs 24%; OR: 7.2, 1.5-33.8; p=0.01) and lung function decline >10% (77% vs 19%; OR: 14.2, 2.6-76.7; p=0.001).

*Conclusions: The CT score during acute COVID-19 infection provides prognostic information regarding loss of lung function among LT patients who survive COVID-19. Parenchymal abnormalities in the UML best predict subsequent lung function loss.

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Halverson QM, Batra K, Mahan LD, Mohanka M, Lawrence AC, Joerns J, Bollineni S, Kaza V, Timofte IL, Kershaw CD, Terada LC, Torres F, Banga A. Association of Chest CT Score During Acute COVID-19 Illness with Subsequent Lung Function Loss Among Lung Transplant Patients [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2022; 22 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/association-of-chest-ct-score-during-acute-covid-19-illness-with-subsequent-lung-function-loss-among-lung-transplant-patients/. Accessed May 30, 2025.

« Back to 2022 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences