Nintedanib treatment for pulmonary fibrosis after coronavirus disease 2019

A 78-year-old Japanese woman with no smoking history suffered from near-fatal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requiring four-week invasive mechanical ventilation, with subsequent radiological features of pulmonary fibrosis. Although methylprednisolone gradually improved her respiratory condition, her oxygenation and exercise tolerance had drastically deteriorated, necessitating high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy. In parallel with tapering systemic steroid, the patient was treated with nintedanib. Three months later, the patient was able to walk with a walking aid using oxygen at 4 L/min. The present case is an indication that nintedanib might provide a novel therapeutic approach for managing post-COVID-19 fibrosis, although further studies are warranted.

Automated summary

A 78-year-old Japanese woman without a smoking history suffered from severe COVID-19, requiring mechanical ventilation and developing pulmonary fibrosis. She was gradually able to improve her respiratory function with methylprednisolone and nintedanib treatment, but still needed oxygen therapy.