Currently there is a great need for an accurately and rapid assessment of patients suspected for Covid-19. Like CT, Lung Ultrasound (LUS) examination can potentially help with the initial triage of patients but also help track the evolution of the disease. LUS can be used in every setting, including settings with limited infrastructure, allowing the reduction of disparities in trials participation. LUS is also a practical approach that can be used by obstetricians/gynecologists, who are the primary care givers in the labour and delivery room. The International Lung UltraSound Analysis (ILUSA) Study is an international multicenter prospective explorative observational study to assess the predictive value of LUS in Covid-19 suspected and diagnosed pregnant patients.
During the current COVID-19 outbreak, all patient groups have been affected, also the most
fragile such as the pregnant women. Although experts provided general suggestions on the best
management of pregnant women with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, these considerations are
mainly based on retrospective studies or case series. No prospective study is currently
available about management of confirmed or suspected patients during pregnancy. Moreover,
only limited outcome data is available on the management of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive
pregnant patients, many of whom subsequently develop disease symptoms.
The current gold standard for the etiological diagnosis of COVID-19 infection is analysis of
respiratory tract specimens by (real-time) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction
(RT-PCR). However, this test has a high false-negative rate, due to both nasopharyngeal swab
sampling error, which often requires repeat sampling, and changing viral burden. Currently,
high-resolution computed tomography (CT) is the main tool for primary diagnosis and
evaluation of disease severity in patients affected by COVID-19 infection. Chest CT scan also
demonstrated a specificity even superior to the nasal/pharyngeal swab for diagnosis. Yet,
radiation exposure should ideally be avoided at all times in pregnancy. A radiation-free
point-of-care diagnostic tool, such as lung ultrasound (LUS) examination, would be
particularly useful for assessing the lungs of pregnant women. Indeed, LUS examination has
recently been suggested by the Chinese Critical Care Ultrasound Study Group and the Italian
Academy of Thoracic Ultrasound as an accurate tool to detect lung involvement during
COVID-19.
In pregnant patients, LUS could be a valid alternative imaging tool to thoracic CT to
guarantee appropriate care for these patients. Symptomatic patients with a low risk of
developing serious disease may be possibly reassured, and could leave the hospital soon after
delivery. On the other hand LUS could possibly indicate patients at higher risk for future
need of oxygen or ventilation support, and who might need more careful monitoring and longer
hospitalization. In view of the wide availability in delivery suites, the low cost and easy
bedside application LUS could also be readily repeated during patient follow up as needed.
LUS has been traditionally employed by non-radiologists as an adjunctive clinical instrument.
Obstetricians represent a category of clinicians who use ultrasound in their daily routine
practice. From a technical point of view, examination of the lungs at the time of obstetric
ultrasound evaluation could be feasible for obstetricians and gynaecologists.
Currently there is a great need for an accurately and rapid assessment of patients suspected
for Covid-19. Like CT, LUS can potentially help with the initial triage of patients but also
help track the evolution of the disease. LUS can be used in every setting, including settings
with limited infrastructure, allowing the reduction of disparities in trials participation.
LUS is also a practical approach that can be used by obstetricians/gynecologists, who are the
primary care givers in the labour and delivery room.
The International Lung UltraSound Analysis (ILUSA) Study is an international multicenter
prospective explorative observational study to assess the predictive value of LUS in Covid-19
suspected and diagnosed pregnant patients.
Diagnostic Test: standardized Lung Ultrasound (LUS) examination
14 areas (three posterior, two lateral and two anterior) will be assigned a COVID-LUS score: Score 0 (Normal pattern), Score 1 (Pattern of mild disease), Score 2 (Pattern of moderate disease), Score 3 (Pattern of severe disease). Classification of LUS result: LUS NEGATIVE: Group A = Score 0 in all 14 areas OR score =1 in areas of one site (right or left). It means that score 1 is pathological only when present bilaterally; LUS POSITIVE: both group B and C have to be considered positive: Group B (MILD DISEASE) = Score 1 in at least two areas localized bilaterally and no areas with score >1; Group C (MODERATE/SEVERE DISEASE)= Score >2 in at least two areas localized bilaterally
Inclusion Criteria:
Participants eligible for inclusion in this Trial must meet all of the following criteria:
Voluntary written informed consent of the participant or their legally authorized
representative obtained prior to any screening procedures
Pregnant patients admitted to the Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic:
1. Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection (see below)
2. Symptomatic patients suspicious for COVID-19 infection (swab is taken on admission)
3. Patients asymptomatic for COVID19 with other feto-maternal diseases or who come for
delivery or caesarean section
All participants that are considered for Trial participation, per the above criteria will
be documented on the Screening Log, including Screen Failures.
Definition of suspected case (WHO guideline, ISUOG)
1. A patient with acute respiratory illness (fever and at least one sign/symptom of
respiratory disease (e.g. cough, shortness of breath)) AND with no other etiology that
fully explains the clinical presentation AND a history of travel to or residence in a
country/area or territory reporting local transmission of COVID-19 infection during
the 14 days prior to symptom onset; OR
2. A patient with any acute respiratory illness AND who has been in contact with a
confirmed or probable case of COVID-19 infection in the 14 days prior to onset of
symptoms; OR
3. A patient with severe acute respiratory infection (fever and at least one sign/symptom
of respiratory disease (e.g. cough, shortness breath)) AND who requires
hospitalization AND who has no other etiology that fully explains the clinical
presentation.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants eligible for this Trial must not meet any of the following criteria:
- Maternal lung pre-existing disease
- Maternal cardiac problems
- Severely ill patients in unstable condition requiring immediate life-saving procedures
Participants who meet one or more of the above exclusion criteria must not proceed to be
enrolled in the Trial and will be identified on the Screening Log as Screen Failure.
University Hospitals Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
University of Brescia
Brescia, Italy
University of Foggia
Foggia, Italy
University of Milan
Milan, Italy
University of Parma
Parma, Italy
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli
Roma, Italy
Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea Hospital
London, United Kingdom
Hannes Van der Merwe, MD
+32 16 341732
Hannes.vandermerwe@uzleuven.be
Wouter Froyman, MD
+32 16 342612
wouter.froyman@uzleuven.be