Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40773458›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Changes in the pulmonary surfactant in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.

Spela Kokelj, Per Larsson, Emilia Viklund, Hatice Koca, Hanna Slogén, Lowie Vanfleteren, Bo Nilsson, Karin Fromell, Johan Westin, Anna-Carin Olin

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Welding Fumes and SARS-CoV-2: A Dangerous Combination.Journal of occupational and environmental medicine · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Spela KokeljOccupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5863-057X
Per LarssonOccupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Emilia ViklundOccupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Hatice KocaOccupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Hanna SlogénOccupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Lowie VanfleterenCOPD Center, Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Bo NilssonDepartment of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Karin FromellDepartment of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
Johan WestinDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2064-073X
Anna-Carin OlinOccupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionChanges in the pulmonary surfactant have been seen in severe COVID-19, but data on mild to moderate COVID-19 is scarce. The aim of this study was to explore the protein and phospholipid profiles in the small airways in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19.

methods29 cases with COVID-19 and 17 healthy controls were examined at baseline. 22 cases were re-examined at follow-up after recovery from COVID-19. Airwave oscillometry was performed and the biological material from the respiratory tract lining fluid was collected with the PExA (Particles in Exhaled Air) method. SOMAscan was used for the analysis of proteins, and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for phospholipids.

results95 lipid species belonging to 8 lipid classes, and 46 proteins were analysed. Relative amounts of 13 lipid species differed between cases and controls at baseline, and of 24 lipid species at follow-up. At follow-up, the phosphatidylethanolamine class (PE) was significantly lower in cases at than in controls, and a significant decrease in PE, as well as a change in 20 lipid species from baseline to follow-up in cases was seen. The protein profile did not differ between cases and controls either at baseline or follow-up, or between repeated measurements in cases.

conclusionsThe observed alterations in the surfactant phospholipids in the RTLF indicate that surfactant homeostasis is affected already in mild to moderate COVID-19, and these changes appear to persist over time.

Indexed as

COVID-19Pulmonary SurfactantsAdultAgedCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPhospholipidsSARS-CoV-2Severity of Illness IndexTandem Mass SpectrometryPhospholipidsPulmonary Surfactants

Identifiers

PMID40773458
PMCPMC12331066

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.