Clinical, biochemical and radiological features associated with COVID-19 Pneumonia

Abstract

Background;The Covid-19 pandemic effected the whole world including Pakistan. The disease with this new virus presented in so many different ways effecting different and at times, various body organs simultaneously. The mode of transmission, pathogenesis, presentation, biochemical changes and radiological features of the disease are all new for the medical world and a lot is yet to be learnt. Objective:To study the clinical, biochemical and radiological features associated with COVID-19 pneumonia. Methodology:This retrospective study comprising of 52 patients was conducted atZiauddin University Hospital, a tertiary care center located in Karachi,Pakistan. Case notes of all patients with SARS-CoV2 pneumonia,tested positive on reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction onnasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab, at the time of admission were reviewed. Data was collected using EMR, and analyzed using SPSS v. 23.3 Results:Amongst the 52 cases, majority were men (82%) with mean age of 55 years. Fever, cough and extreme fatigue/myalgia were common presenting symptoms. Lymphopenia ws obsereved in vast majority. Raised levels of CRP, Ferritin, D Dimer and LDH were seen in more than 70% of cases. On plain chest X-ray air space changes with bilateral involvement (90%) in peripheral zones (60%) were noticed. Conclusion:Fever, cough and extreme fatigue/myalgia were the main presenting symptoms of COVID 19 infection. These symptoms during pandemic should raise supicion of COVID 19 infection and approprite testing must be initiated. Presence of raised inflamatory markers and bilateral, peripheral air space changes on plain radiograph, strrongly supports the diagnosis of COVID -19 infection.