2026, Number 1
Effect of pirfenidone on post-COVID-19 pulmonary damage: a retrospective hospital cohort study
Full text
10.35366/123040
Language: Spanish
References: 10
Page: 49-53
PDF size: 293.99 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis has been identified as a relevant complication in hospitalized patients, with significant impact on respiratory function and quality of life. Pirfenidone, an antifibrotic agent approved for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, may offer potential benefits in this context. Material and methods: a retrospective study was conducted in 30 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in a secondary-level hospital. Two groups were formed: 15 patients treated with pirfenidone and 15 without antifibrotic therapy, matched by age, sex, comorbidities, and absence of vaccination. Clinical variables, tomographic evolution (EPPC), and extent of pulmonary damage (INER) were evaluated. Results: mortality was lower in the pirfenidone group (14.3 vs. 40%), as was the requirement for mechanical ventilation (33.3 vs. 66.7%), although without statistical significance. Regarding tomographic evolution, treated patients showed a higher proportion of favorable patterns, while in the untreated group fibrotic pattern and death predominated. The final INER score was lower in the pirfenidone group (12.8 ± 6.5 vs. 15.4 ± 7.0), suggesting less structural damage. Conclusion: pirfenidone showed a trend toward improved clinical and radiological outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, supporting the need for multicenter studies with larger sample sizes.REFERENCES
Guler SA, Ebner L, Aubry-Beigelman C, Bridevaux PO, Brutsche M, Clarenbach C, et al. Pulmonary function and radiological features four months after COVID-19: first results from the national prospective observational Swiss COVID-19 lung study. Eur Respir J. 2021;57(4):2003690. doi: 10.1183/13993003.03690-2020.
Ferrara F, Granata G, Pelliccia C, La Porta R, Vitiello A. The added value of pirfenidone to fight inflammation and fibrotic state induced by SARS-CoV-2: anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapy could solve the lung complications of the infection? Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 2020;76(11):1615-1618. doi: 10.1007/s00228-020-02947-4.
Maher TM, Corte TJ, Fischer A, Kreuter M, Lederer DJ, Molina-Molina M, et al. Pirfenidone in patients with unclassifiable progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease: a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet Respir Med. 2020;8(2):147-157. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(19)30341-8.