Lung Ultrasound Signs and Their Correlation With Clinical Symptoms in COVID-19 Pregnant Women: The “PINK-CO” Observational Study
Luigi Vetrugno, Alessia Sala, Daniele Orso, Francesco Meroi, Sebastiano Del Fabbro, Enrico Boero, Francesca Valent, Gianmaria Cammarota, Stefano Restaino, Giuseppe Vizzielli, Rossano Girometti, Maria Merelli, Carlo Tascini, Tiziana Bove, Lorenza Driul, The PINK-CO study investigators
Abstract
Objective To analyze the application of lung ultrasound (LUS) diagnostic approach in obstetric patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and compare LUS score and symptoms of the patients. Design A single-center observational retrospective study from October 31, 2020 to March 31, 2021. Setting Department of Ob/Gyn at the University-Hospital of Udine, Italy. Participants Pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 diagnosed with reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) swab test were subdivided as symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with COVID-19. Exposure Lung ultrasound evaluation both through initial evaluation upon admission and through serial evaluations. Main Outcome Reporting LUS findings and LUS score characteristics. Results Symptomatic patients with COVID-19 showed a higher LUS (median 3.5 vs. 0, p < 0.001). LUS was significantly correlated with COVID-19 biomarkers as C-reactive protein (CPR; p = 0.011), interleukin-6 ( p = 0.013), and pro-adrenomedullin ( p = 0.02), and inversely related to arterial oxygen saturation ( p = 0.004). The most frequent ultrasound findings were focal B lines (14 vs. 2) and the light beam (9 vs. 0). Conclusion Lung ultrasound can help to manage pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection during a pandemic surge. Study Registration ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT04823234. Registered on March 29, 2021.