The relationship between lung fibrosis, epidermal growth factor receptor and disease outcomes in Covid-19 pneumonia: A postmortem evaluation

The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between the severity of fibrosis in the lung tissue and Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) positivity in patients who died due to Covid-19 pneumonia, demographic characteristics, comorbidities, biochemistry values, and treatments they receive. Fifty patients who died with Covid 19 pneumonia were included in the study. Demographic data of the patients, laboratory tests, thorax computerized tomography findings, comorbidities, length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), intubation times and treatments given were noted. Postmortem Tru-cut lung biopsy was performed. EGFR positivity was examined and grouped as negative, mild, moderate and severe. Data analyzed statistically. EGFR involvement were negative in 11 (22%), mild in 20 (40%), moderate in 13 (26%), severe in 6 (12%) patients. The mean C-reactive protein (CRP), d.dimer and mean length of stay in the ICU were found to be statistically different between the groups (respectively p=0.024; p= 0.003; p=0.016). Methylprednisolone usage dose and presence of comorbidity did not differ significantly in EGFR involvement (respectively, p=0.79; p=0.98). CRP and d.dimer values ​​can be a guide for the severity of pulmonary fibrosis that may develop in severe Covid-19 pneumonia patients . The dose of methylprednisolone used does not make a significant difference in the severity of fibrosis. Clinical Trials.gov identifier date and number: 01/13/2022 NCT05290441