Research Article

Effectiveness of high-dose steroid treatment on pulmonary fibrosis in severe COVID-19 pneumonia

Volume: 9 Number: 1 January 5, 2026
TR EN

Effectiveness of high-dose steroid treatment on pulmonary fibrosis in severe COVID-19 pneumonia

Abstract

Aims: Corticosteroid therapy has been proposed as a therapeutic strategy to mitigate pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in severe COVID-19 pneumonia. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of high-dose methylprednisolone (MP) and dexamethasone (DEX) on clinical and radiological outcomes. Methods: In this retrospective study, hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia were categorized into three groups: MP, DEX, and control. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were analyzed, and radiological outcomes were assessed using baseline and follow-up chest computed tomography (CT) scans. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with radiological improvement. Results: Age and sex distributions differed among groups, and the control group consisted of older and predominantly male participants. Steroid-treated groups had longer hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stays, while mechanical ventilation rates were similar across groups. Laboratory parameters including levels of glucose, creatinine, alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), D-dimer, and C-reactive protein (CRP) differed significantly among groups. Baseline CT findings more frequently showed extensive and severe fibrosis in the control group, whereas moderate involvement predominated in the DEX group. Follow-up CT scans revealed radiological improvements in at least two categories in 70.8% of MP, 58.5% of DEX, and 35.4% of control patients (p<0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that both MP (OR=11.11; p<0.001) and DEX (OR=9.49; p<0.001) treatments, as well as baseline CT severity, were independent predictors of radiological improvement. Age, ICU admission, and mechanical ventilation were not significantly associated with improvement. Conclusion: High-dose corticosteroid (CS) therapy, particularly MP, was associated with significantly greater radiological improvement in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, independent of age, ICU admission, or use of mechanical ventilation. These findings suggest that CS may be effective in promoting pulmonary recovery and mitigating fibrotic progression in severe COVID-19 pneumonia.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

none

Ethical Statement

Our institution approved the ethics committee on February 7th, 2023, with protocol number 2228. Informed consent was obtained from all participants.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Chest Diseases

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

January 5, 2026

Submission Date

September 17, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 12, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 1

APA
Ayhan Albayrak, G., & Özkarafakılı, M. A. (2026). Effectiveness of high-dose steroid treatment on pulmonary fibrosis in severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, 9(1), 147-155. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1785790
AMA
1.Ayhan Albayrak G, Özkarafakılı MA. Effectiveness of high-dose steroid treatment on pulmonary fibrosis in severe COVID-19 pneumonia. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9(1):147-155. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1785790
Chicago
Ayhan Albayrak, Gülhan, and Müfide Arzu Özkarafakılı. 2026. “Effectiveness of High-Dose Steroid Treatment on Pulmonary Fibrosis in Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 (1): 147-55. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1785790.
EndNote
Ayhan Albayrak G, Özkarafakılı MA (January 1, 2026) Effectiveness of high-dose steroid treatment on pulmonary fibrosis in severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 1 147–155.
IEEE
[1]G. Ayhan Albayrak and M. A. Özkarafakılı, “Effectiveness of high-dose steroid treatment on pulmonary fibrosis in severe COVID-19 pneumonia”, J Health Sci Med / JHSM, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 147–155, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.32322/jhsm.1785790.
ISNAD
Ayhan Albayrak, Gülhan - Özkarafakılı, Müfide Arzu. “Effectiveness of High-Dose Steroid Treatment on Pulmonary Fibrosis in Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9/1 (January 1, 2026): 147-155. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1785790.
JAMA
1.Ayhan Albayrak G, Özkarafakılı MA. Effectiveness of high-dose steroid treatment on pulmonary fibrosis in severe COVID-19 pneumonia. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9:147–155.
MLA
Ayhan Albayrak, Gülhan, and Müfide Arzu Özkarafakılı. “Effectiveness of High-Dose Steroid Treatment on Pulmonary Fibrosis in Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, vol. 9, no. 1, Jan. 2026, pp. 147-55, doi:10.32322/jhsm.1785790.
Vancouver
1.Gülhan Ayhan Albayrak, Müfide Arzu Özkarafakılı. Effectiveness of high-dose steroid treatment on pulmonary fibrosis in severe COVID-19 pneumonia. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026 Jan. 1;9(1):147-55. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1785790

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