Suggestions and comments for the care of patients with interstitial lung process in the COVID-19 pandemic
Abstract
In December 2019, a new strain of coronavirus, causing a severe acute respiratory syndrome, was identified in Wuhan, China (Hubei Province), called SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2). The disease you wanted was called COVID-19.
The clinical course ranges from asymptomatic, through the common cold to fatal. Previously published work on specific COVID-19 identifying as the most significant risk factors "diseases of civilization" that occur frequently in the population, plus age over 65.
Arterial hypertension, diabetes, obesity, chronic cardiovascular disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are mentioned. The risk for patients with interstitial lung processes of ongoing etiology is not specifically mentioned in any of the available literature.
At this time, there is no evidence that patients with interstitial lung processes (IPP) affected by etiology are limited in treatment. The greatest risk of a serious course of viral infections is most likely the long-term active inflammation that often accompanies IPP.
Information on whether the coronavirus increases the risk of exacerbation of IPP will come time. At present, no data are available that clearly demonstrated a causal relationship between viral respiratory infections and the risk of exacerbation of IPP.
However, the possibility must be taken into account that the viral infection may trigger a cascade of other histories due to heterologous immune mechanisms, which may lead to still negligible interstitial abnormalities in the interstitial lung process manifest.