NCT05981885

68Ga-FAPI PET/CT to Detect Ongoing Fibroblast Activity in Post-acute COVID-19

68Ga-FAPI PET/CT to Detect Ongoing Fibroblast Activity in Post-acute COVID-19 With Respiratory Impairment After Hospital Discharge

• Status: Completed
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 18 (actual)
• Sponsor: University Medical Center Groningen · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this observational study is to investigate the role fibroblasts play in the persistent respiratory complaints after a COVID-19 infection. Fibroblasts are involved in tissue remodeling and repair by creating scar-tissue (fibrosis) after tissue damage has occurred. The hypothesis is that this process of fibrosis is ongoing in patients with persistent complaints. To evaluate the roll of fibroblasts a new type of scan is used that is capable of imaging active fibroblasts, a 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT scan.

Detailed description

Rationale: The pathogenesis of post-acute COVID-19 with respiratory complaints remains unknown. We aim to explore the pulmonary pattern and fibrosis activity in patients with post-acute COVID-19 with respiratory complaints using 68Ga-FAPI Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET/CT) imaging. Objective: To relate pulmonary fibroblast activity, measured by FAPI-PET/CT at least 3 months after hospital discharge, to interstitial lung abnormalities on high resolution CT (HRCT) at the same time point in post-acute COVID-19 patients with respiratory complaints. Study design: This is a ZonMw funded single center prospective observational cohort study of post-acute COVID-19 patients with respiratory complaints. Study population: We will recruit 20 adult patients, all post-ICU or post High-Flow Nasal Oxygen therapy due to there COVID-19 infection, with post-acute COVID-19 and respiratory complaints that will undergo 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT imaging to establish pulmonary fibrosis activity. Main study parameters/endpoints: To assess the degree of Fibroblast Activation Protein expression on 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT at least 3 months after hospital discharge and to relate this to interstitial lung abnormalities on HRCT at the same time point.

Conditions

• Post-Acute COVID-19
• Post-Acute COVID-19 Infection
• Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
• Pulmonary Fibrosis

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-06-09
• Primary completion: 2023-11-21
• Completion: 2024-05-17
• First posted: 2023-08-08
• Last updated: 2024-05-21

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Netherlands