The figure shows a box plot of the relationship between total blood volume and whether or not the person has COVID-19. There is a greater range of values at which the total blood volume could land in those with COVID-19. These values exceed those without COVID-19.

Total Blood Volume vs. COVID-19

- Opacities are found on the CT scans of COVID-19 patients; these opacities could be mixed with the appearance of blood, thus increasing the volume of pulmonary blood.
- The slight difference between the two groups in the figure could also indicate blood being redistributed by from small to large vessels
- In arterial pressure in the lungs could be due to tissue damage or blockage caused by microthrombi
- Hypoxia is observed in those with COVID-19, which is associated with vasoconstriction
- Figure below: pulmonary blood vessels' cross-sectional area in those with and without COVID-19 (according to the key, there is very little red in the lungs of COVID-19 patients)

Michigan State University

- 103 patients with lung CTs were chosen for the study
- The CT scans from 107 healthy patients were taken (control group)
- Figures show the relationship between the volume of blood vessels and its cross-sectional area, where the area of a circle is measured by taking a slice of the blood vessel
- The volume of blood vessels in healthy patients was lower compared to COVID-19 patients
- However, there is a slight increase in blood vessel volume in healthy patients when the cross section area of the blood vessels is between ~1.25 and 3.5 mm^2
- The increase in blood vessel volume in COVID-19 patients could be due to inflammation in the blood vessels to increase oxygen uptake by the lungs


HCRT Use In Studying The Pulmonary Blood Vessels In COVID-19 Patients

Lins, M., Vandevenne, J., Thillai, M., Lavon, B. R., Lanclus, M., Bonte, S., ... & De Backer, W. (2020). Assessment of small pulmonary blood vessels in COVID-19 patients using HRCT. Academic Radiology.

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