Pathophysiology of pulmonary fibrosis in the context of COVID-19 and implications for treatment (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a feared outcome of many pulmonary diseases results in a reduction in lung compliance and capacity. The development of PF is relatively rare, but it can occur secondary to viral pneumonia, especially COVID-19 infection. OBJECTIVE While COVID-19 infection and its complications are still under investigation, we can look at a similar outbreak in the past to gain better insight as to the expected long-term outcomes of COVID-19 patient lung function. METHODS We review literature relative to PF via PubMed. We also performed a literature search for COVID-related pathological changes in the lungs. Finally, the paper was reviewed and summarized based on the studies' integrity, relative, or power calculations. RESULTS With the massive scale of the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect there should more instances of PF due to COVID-19 infection. Patients who survive severe COVID-19 infection may suffer from a high incidence of PF. CONCLUSIONS This article reviews the current understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PF and therapeutic strategies. We also discussed the potential for preventing progression to the fibrotic state within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.