UK MHRA authorises integrated imaging technology for Covid-19

The UK Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the use of Perspectum’s magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based technology, CoverScan MD, for mapping the effects of Covid-19 on various key organs in the body.

The multi-parametric technology supports healthcare providers in detecting Covid-19-related systemic organ damage through scans of patients’ hearts, lungs, livers, and other internal organs.

Perspectum noted that CoverScan MD will provide doctors in the UK with a new tool to analyse ‘Long Covid’ patients, while also obtaining a better understanding of the symptoms and the long-term impact on various organs.

Estimates show that Long Covid affects 10%-30% of people with symptomatic Covid-19.

Long Covid is defined as symptomatic disease that lasts over 12 weeks.

Extreme fatigue, chest pain, breathlessness, muscle aches, and brain fog are some of the typical symptoms.

A software suite, CoverScan MD delivers a complete, one-stop-shop assessment to identify damage in the heart, liver, lungs, kidneys, pancreas, and spleen.

Furthermore, the single, rapid MRI exam alleviates the requirement for conducting multiple individual or invasive tests.

Healthcare workers and patients are provided with quantitative measurements and accurate data, which helps to create personalised treatment plans for the long-term care of patients.

UCL Consultant Respiratory Physician and North London Long Covid care services head Dr Melissa Heightman said: “The MHRA authorisation of Coverscan is timely. UK experts and NICE are developing a Covid-19 follow-up pathway, which provides equitable access and high-quality community-based triage with rapid access to diagnostics and multi-speciality services.

“We have seen over 800 patients in North London, and it would be very valuable for their clinical care to be able to access Coverscan results.”