ObjectiveSince the end of 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus has infected millions of people, of whom a significant group suffers from sequelae from COVID-19, termed long COVID. As... Show moreObjectiveSince the end of 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus has infected millions of people, of whom a significant group suffers from sequelae from COVID-19, termed long COVID. As more and more patients emerge with long COVID who have symptoms of fatigue, myalgia and joint pain, we must examine potential biomarkers to find quantifiable parameters to define the underlying mechanisms and enable response monitoring. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential added value of [F-18]FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT) for this group of long COVID patients. MethodsFor this proof of concept study, we evaluated [F-18]FDG-PET/CT scans of long COVID patients and controls. Two analyses were performed: semi-quantitative analysis using target-to-background ratios (TBRs) in 24 targets and total vascular score (TVS) assessed by two independent nuclear medicine physicians. Mann-Whitney U-test was performed to find significant differences between the two groups. ResultsThirteen patients were included in the long COVID group and 25 patients were included in the control group. No significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between the long COVID group and the control group in the TBR or TVS assessment. ConclusionAs we found no quantitative difference in the TBR or TVS between long COVID patients and controls, we are unable to prove that [F-18]FDG is of added value for long COVID patients with symptoms of myalgia or joint pain. Prospective cohort studies are necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms of long COVID. Show less
Chen, L.L.; Burgt, A. van de; Smit, F.; Audhoe, R.S.; Boer, S.M. de; Velden, F.H.P. van; Geus-Oei, L.F. de 2023
Objective Since the end of 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus has infected millions of people, of whom a significant group suffers from sequelae from COVID-19, termed long COVID.... Show moreObjective Since the end of 2019, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus has infected millions of people, of whom a significant group suffers from sequelae from COVID-19, termed long COVID. As more and more patients emerge with long COVID who have symptoms of fatigue, myalgia and joint pain, we must examine potential biomarkers to find quantifiable parameters to define the underlying mechanisms and enable response monitoring. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential added value of [18F]FDG-PET/computed tomography (CT) for this group of long COVID patients.Methods For this proof of concept study, we evaluated [18F]FDG-PET/CT scans of long COVID patients and controls. Two analyses were performed: semi-quantitative analysis using target-to-background ratios (TBRs) in 24 targets and total vascular score (TVS) assessed by two independent nuclear medicine physicians. Mann–Whitney U-test was performed to find significant differences between the two groups.Results Thirteen patients were included in the long COVID group and 25 patients were included in the control group. No significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between the long COVID group and the control group in the TBR or TVS assessment.Conclusion As we found no quantitative difference in the TBR or TVS between long COVID patients and controls, we are unable to prove that [18F]FDG is of added value for long COVID patients with symptoms of myalgia or joint pain. Prospective cohort studies are necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms of long COVID. Show less
Heterogeneous neointimal response has been observed after implantation of all generations of coronary stents. Our aim was assessing local factors of shear stress (SS) and plaque characteristics in... Show moreHeterogeneous neointimal response has been observed after implantation of all generations of coronary stents. Our aim was assessing local factors of shear stress (SS) and plaque characteristics in neointimal response after implantation of bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) in bifurcations. Ten patients from the BIFSORB pilot study were analysed. Follow-up optical frequency domain imaging (OFDI) was performed at 1 month and 2 years. Coronary lumen and BRS structure were reconstructed by fusion of OFDI and angiography and were used for subsequent flow simulation. Plaque arc degree and SS were quantified using post-procedural OFDI data and were matched with follow-up OFDI using anatomical landmarks. Strut-level and segment-level analysis were performed for 1-month and 2-year follow-up respectively. A total of 444 struts (54 jailing struts) were included at 1-month follow-up. Time-average SS (TASS) was significantly lower for covered struts than for uncovered struts in non-bifurcation segments (TASS: 1.81 +/- 1.87 vs. 3.88 +/- 3.72 Pa, p < 0.001). The trend remained the same for jailing struts, although statistically insignificant (TASS: 10.85 +/- 13.12 vs. 13.64 +/- 14.48 Pa, p = 0.328). For 2-year follow-up, a total of 66 sub-regions were analysed. Neointimal hyperplasia area (NTA) was negatively correlated with TASS in core-segments (rho = - 0.389, p = 0.037) and positively correlated with plaque arc degree in non-core segments (rho = 0.387, p = 0.018). Slightly stronger correlations with NTA were observed when combining TASS and plaque arc degree in both core segments (rho = - 0.412, p = 0.026) and non-core segments (rho = - 0.395, p = 0.015). Hemodynamic microenvironment and baseline plaque characteristics may regulate neointimal response after BRS implantation in bifurcation. These findings underline the combined role of plaque characteristics and local hemodynamics in vessel healing after stent implantation. Show less
