Nevco News
December 2009
Volume 2, Issue 12
H1N1 Increases Risk of Other Life Threatening Conditions
| University of Michigan researchers have found that patients
with severe cases of the H1N1 virus are at risk for developing
severe complications, including pulmonary emboli, according to a
study published today in the American Journal of Roentgenology A pulmonary embolism occurs when one or more arteries in the lungs become blocked. The condition can be life-threatening. However, if treated aggressively, blood thinners can reduce the risk of death. "The high incidence of pulmonary embolism is important. Radiologists have to be aware to look closely for |
the risks of pulmonary embolism in severely sick
patients," said Prachi P. Agarwal, M.D., assistant professor of
radiology at the U-M Medical School and lead author of the
study. "With the upcoming annual influenza season in the United States, knowledge of the radiologic features of H1N1 is important, as well as the virus's potential complications. The majority of patients with H1N1 that undergo chest X-rays have normal radiographs. CT scans proved valuable in identifying those patients at risk of developing more serious complications as a possible result of the H1N1 virus," says Agarwal. |
Working with Agarwal on the research were Ella
Kazerooni, M.D., director of U-M's division of cardiothoracic
radiology and professor of radiology and Sandro K. Cinti,
clinical assistant professor in U-M's Department of Internal
Medicine. The research included 66 patients diagnosed with the
H1N1 flu. Of those, 14 were patients that were severely ill and
required Intensive Care Unit admission. All 66 patients underwent chest X-rays for the detection of H1N1 abnormalities. Pulmonary emboli were seen in CT scans on five of the 14 ICU patients. Another important finding is that initial chest radiographs were normal in more than half of the patients with H1N1, says Kazerooni. "These findings indicate that imaging studies would have to be repeated in severely ill patients to monitor disease progression," said Kazerooni. "It's important to heighten awareness not only among the radiologists, but also among the referring clinicians." University of Michigan Health System (2009, October 18). Those With Severe H1N1 At Risk For Pulmonary Emboli, Researchers Find. ScienceDaily. |
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