To identify pulmonary vascular disease in post/long-COVID-19 patients as a cause ofdyspnea/exercise limitation and to differentiate it from other causes of dyspnea
The aim is to identify pulmonary vascular disease in post/long-COVID-19 patients as a
cause of dyspnea/exercise limitation and to differentiate it from other causes of dyspnea
(muscular, left cardiac, psychological, deconditioning-related causes) by investigating
ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatch and (exercise-induced) pulmonary hypertension (PH)
or right heart dysfunction.
Other: pulmonary vascular dysfunction
Right ventricular function determined by echocardiography at rest and during exercise
(non-invasive estimation of ventilation-perfusion mismatch), systemic endothelial
function, left heart function, and plasma levels of vasoactive biomarkers compared with
clinical parameters of dyspnea and exercise capacity. Further examinations will be
performed in patients with still unclear cause of persistent shortness of breath after 3
months of follow-up (subgroup RHC)
Other: pulmonary vascular function
Right ventricular function determined by echocardiography at rest and during exercise
(non-invasive estimation of ventilation-perfusion mismatch), systemic endothelial
function, and plasma levels of vasoactive biomarkers compared with clinical parameters of
dyspnea and exercise capacity.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age ≥ 18 years, patients with a suspected diagnosis of post/long-COVID-19 syndrome
who present to our pneumology or infectious disease outpatient clinic or
corresponding ward from the start of the study and whose SARS-CoV-2 infection was
diagnosed at least 3 and not longer than 18 months prior to presentation
- Patients at least 3 and not longer than 18 months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection
without post/long-COVID-19 syndrome who present to our post-infection outpatient
clinic for follow-up
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients who refuse to participate in the study
- Severe underlying chronic pulmonary, cardiac, or systemic disease (e.g., Chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe heart failure, neuromuscular disease)
that was diagnosed prior to acute COVID-19 disease and whose progression appears
likely as the cause of dyspnea
- Other non pneumologic causes of dyspnea (e.g., hemoglobin < 100 g/L)
- Unstable or acute disease (e.g., acute infection, acute renal failure, acute
coronary syndrome)
- Inability to perform spiroergometry, including transient orthopedic problems,
contraindications to central venous and arterial catheter placement (e.g., severe
bleeding tendency).
Natascha Sommer
Giessen, Germany
Investigator: Natascha Sommer, PD
Natascha Sommer, PD
+0049-(0641)985 56742
Natascha.Sommer@innere.med.uni-giessen.de
Khodr Tello, PD
+0049-(0641)985 56087
Khodr.Tello@innere.med.uni-giessen.de
Natascha Sommer, PD, Principal Investigator
Cardiopulmonary Institute (CPI), University of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC)