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Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Radiographic case report of a heart transplanted patient suffering from COVID-19
Leona S Alizadeh1,2, Moritz H Albrecht1, Christian Booz1
1Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany.
Insights
This case study highlights an atypical presentation of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a heart transplant recipient. Despite multiple risk factors, the patient experienced mild symptoms and unusual CT scan results during hospitalization.
Area of Science:
- Medical Science
- Infectious Diseases
- Cardiology
Background:
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a significant risk to elderly patients with comorbidities and male individuals.
- Typical computed tomography (CT) findings in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) include bilateral ground glass opacities, septal thickening, and consolidation.
Observation:
- A 77-year-old heart transplant recipient with pre-existing coronary heart disease and diabetes type II was diagnosed with COVID-19.
- The patient presented with only mild clinical symptoms throughout the course of the disease.
- Serial CT scans revealed an atypical progression of pulmonary findings during hospitalization.
Findings:
- The patient's clinical presentation was incongruent with their significant risk factors for severe COVID-19.
- Computed tomography (CT) imaging demonstrated an unusual pattern and evolution of lung abnormalities, deviating from typical COVID-19 presentations.
- The combination of comorbidities and transplant status may influence the manifestation and imaging characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Implications:
- This case underscores the variability in COVID-19 presentation, even in high-risk populations.
- Atypical CT findings in immunocompromised patients warrant careful clinical correlation.
- Further research is needed to understand the impact of comorbidities and immunosuppression on COVID-19 disease course and imaging.
Abstract:
In context of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), patients with certain comorbidities and high age, as well as male sex are considered to represent the risk group for severe course of disease. Corona-virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) typical CT-patterns include bilateral, peripheral ground glass opacity (GGO), septal thickening, bronchiectasis, consolidation as well as associated pleural effusion. We report a 77-year-old heart transplanted patient with confirmed COVID-19 infection and coronary heart disease, diabetes type II and other risk factors. Notably, only slight clinical symptoms were reported and repeated computed tomography (CT) scans showed an atypical course of CT findings during his hospitalization.
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