Li W, Li X, Kong Z, Chen B, Zhou H, Jiang Y, Li W, Zhong L, Zhang X, Zhang K, Zhang L, Zong X, Bai W, Zheng Y. Efficacy of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia.
ULTRASCHALL IN DER MEDIZIN (STUTTGART, GERMANY : 1980) 2023;
44:e274-e283. [PMID:
37467781 PMCID:
PMC10695700 DOI:
10.1055/a-2133-0835]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE
As a public health emergency of international concern, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) still lacks specific antiviral drugs, and symptomatic treatment is currently the mainstay. The overactivated inflammatory response in COVID-19 patients is associated with a high risk of critical illness or even death. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) can mitigate inflammation and inhibit edema formation. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of LIPUS therapy for COVID-19 pneumonia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
62 patients were randomly assigned to a treatment group (LIPUS treatment area - Group 1; self-control area - Group 2) and an external control group (Group 3). The primary outcomes were the volume absorption rate (VAR) and the area absorption rate (AAR) of lung inflammation in CT images.
RESULTS
After an average duration of treatment 7.2 days, there were significant differences in AAR and VAR between Group 1 and Group 2 (AAR 0.25 vs 0.12, p=0.013; VAR 0.35 vs 0.11, p=0.005), and between Group 1 and Group 3 (AAR 0.25 vs 0.11, p=0.047; VAR 0.35 vs 0.19, p=0.042). Neither AAR nor VAR was statistically different between Group 2 and Group 3. After treatment, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, leukocyte, and fingertip arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) improved in Group 1, while in Group 3 only fingertip SaO2 increased.
CONCLUSION
LIPUS therapy reduced lung inflammation and serum inflammatory factor levels in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, which might be a major advancement in COVID-19 pneumonia therapy.
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