Abstract: Objective To analyze the clinical features in acute stage of severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS) and associated factors for pulmonary fibrosis.Methods The clinical data of 54 patients with SARS during hospitalization from March 24, 2003 to May 15,2003 were collected and analyzed retrospectively.Results 38 patients(70.4%)had contact with patients with SARS.As the onset symptom,fever was shown in 92.6% of patients.PaO₂/FiO₂≤200 in 7 patients(14.8%),200<PaO₂/FiO₂≤300 cong in 20 patients(42.6%),WBC<4.0×10⁹/L in 13 patients(24.1%),lymphocyte<9.0×10⁹/L in 24 patients(46.2%),thrombocyte<100.0×10⁹/L in 5 patients(10.0%),and increased creatinine kinase levels in 24 patients(44.4%).The most common findings on CT of chest were irregular consolidation(61.1%) and ground-glass opacification(53.7%).The majority of lesions were located in the lower fields of bilateral lungs.The proportion of receiving corticosteroids and noninvasive ventilation therapy in critical patients(100.0%,(55.6)%)were higher than those in ordinary patients(77.8%,9.0%)(P<0.01 and P<0.05).The significant difference in lung lesions,PaO₂/FiO₂ and thrombocyte were observed between the patients with pulmonary fibrosis and the patients with non-pulmonary fibrosis.(Conclusion SARS) can be highly contagious by contacting closely with patients with SARS.CT of chest can detect the pulmonary abnormality of SARS and extremely important for early diagnosis in treatment and comprehensive supportive management is favorable for the significant efficacy of SARS.Widespread lung lesions and decrease of PaO₂/FiO₂ are related to the pulmonary fibrosis.

Key words: severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS), pneumonia, retrospective studies, pulmonary fibrosis