Longitudinal H and Xe Lung MRI in Patients With Post-COVID Residual Lung Abnormalities.

Publication date: May 28, 2026

It is unclear how lung function may recover in patients with residual lung abnormalities (RLAs) following COVID-19 pneumonia. To evaluate lung function trends over time in patients with RLAs following hospitalization due to COVID-19. Prospective, multicenter longitudinal cohort study. Twenty-four participants hospitalized due to COVID-19 with RLAs identified on CT ≥ 3 months postdischarge (median [IQR] age 69 (15) years; 3 female) underwent at least one MRI at 6 months (n = 16), 1 year (n = 19), or 2 years (n = 14). 1. 5 T. Dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) 3D spoiled gradient echo, Xe steady state free precession (ventilation), Xe 3D spoiled gradient echo multiple b-value (diffusion-weighted), Xe 4-echo flyback 3D radial (dissolved phase). Pulmonary blood flow, volume, and mean transit time (MTT) were calculated from DCE MRI. The fraction of Xe signal in the red blood cells to membrane (RBC:M) was calculated from the dissolved phase Xe acquisition. Ventilation defect percentage (VDP) was calculated from the Xe ventilation acquisition. Mean diffusive length scale (Lm) was calculated from the Xe diffusion-weighted acquisition. Changes in metrics with time and associations between metrics were assessed using mixed-effect linear regression. Correlations were tested using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Regional differences were assessed using a Friedman’s test with a Bonferroni adjustment. p 

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