CT Scans Identify Patients With Severe H1N1 at Risk for Developing Pulmonary Emboli

LEESBURG, Va -- October 14, 2009 -- Utilising computed tomography (CT) scans, researchers have found that patients with severe cases of the influenza A(H1N1) are at risk for developing severe complications, including pulmonary emboli (PE).

The study is published online, ahead of print, in the American Journal of Roentgenology. The study will be published in the December print issue of the journal.

The study included 66 patients diagnosed with the H1N1. Two study groups were formed. Group 1 consisted of 14 patients who were severely ill and required admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and group 2 consisted of 52 patients who were not severely ill and did not require ICU admission.

All 66 patients underwent chest x-rays for the detection of H1N1 abnormalities. Ten patients from the ICU group and 5 patients from the largely outpatient group, underwent CT scans.

"Pulmonary emboli were seen on CT in 5 of 14 ICU patients," said lead author Prachi P. Agarwal, MD, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

"Our study suggests that patients who are severely ill with H1N1 are also at risk for developing PE, which should be carefully sought for on contrast-enhanced CT scans," she said.

"With the upcoming annual influenza season in the United States, knowledge of the radiologic features of H1N1 is important, as well as the virus's potential complications, said Dr. Agarwal.

"The majority of patients undergoing chest x-rays with H1N1 have normal radiographs. CT scans proved valuable in identifying those patients at risk of developing more serious complications as a possible result of the H1N1 virus, and for identifying a greater extent of disease than is appreciated on chest radiographs," she said.


SOURCE: American Roentgen Ray Society