scholarly journals Effectiveness of convalescent plasma therapy in eight non-intubated coronavirus disease 2019 patients in Indonesia: a case series

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Theresia Monica Rahardjo ◽  
Elizabeth Yogipranata ◽  
Ardian Hediyanto Naswan ◽  
Fitri Rahayu Sari ◽  
Fajar Budiono ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, the cause of coronavirus disease 2019, has become a global pandemic. Currently, there is no definitive treatment for coronavirus disease 2019. Convalescent plasma therapy has become a potential specific curative method, while vaccines as protection modalities require further work. Case presentation Eight non-intubated Indonesian patients, ages ranging from 40 to 74 years old, with coronavirus disease 2019 confirmed by viral Ribonucleid Acid (RNA) real-time polymerase chain reaction tests were included. Four patients were administered two doses of 200 mL convalescent plasma, and the other four patients were administered one dose of convalescent plasma with an antibody titer of 1:320, within the first 14 days since symptoms occurred. The median times from illness onset to convalescent plasma therapy and from the first day of hospital admission to convalescent plasma therapy were 13 and 6.5 days, respectively. All patients showed improvements in clinical symptoms, laboratory parameters, thorax imaging, negative conversion of polymerase chain reaction results, and decreased oxygen supplementation within 1 week after convalescent plasma therapy. Patients with two convalescent plasma doses tended to have faster recovery than those with one convalescent plasma dose. No severe adverse effects were observed in any patient. Conclusion This is the first case series in Indonesia showing that convalescent plasma therapy is safe and well tolerated and that early convalescent plasma therapy before the patient is intubated could potentially prevent disease progression, increase the recovery rate, and shorten the inpatient time of stay.

2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. e69-e74 ◽  
Author(s):  
PD Andrade ◽  
MT Fioravanti ◽  
EBV Anjos ◽  
C De Oliveira ◽  
DM Albuquerque ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: Human cytomegalovirus is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has proven to be a sensitive and effective technique in defining active cytomegalovirus infection, in addition to having low cost and being a useful test for situations in which there is no need for quantification. Real-time PCR has the advantage of quantification; however, the high cost of this methodology makes it impractical for routine use.OBJECTIVE: To apply a nested PCR assay to serum (sPCR) and to evaluate its efficiency to diagnose active cytomegalovirus infection compared with PCR of peripheral blood leukocytes (L-PCR).METHODS: Samples of 37 patients were prospectively evaluated. An internal control was created and applied to sPCR to exclude false-negative results.RESULTS: In total, 21 patients (57%) developed active cytomegalovirus infection. After analyzing the two methods for the diagnosis of active infection, higher sensitivity and negative predictive value of the L-PCR versus sPCR (100% versus 62%), and higher specificity and positive predictive value of sPCR versus L-PCR (81% versus 50% and 72%, respectively) were observed. Discordant results were observed in 11 patients who were L-PCR-positive but sPCR-negative for active cytomegalovirus infection, five of whom developed clinical symptoms of cytomegalovirus. Clinical symptoms were observed in 14 patients, 12 of whom were diagnosed with active infection by nested L-PCR (P=0.007) and seven by nested sPCR (P=0.02). Higher specificity and a positive predictive value for sPCR were observed.CONCLUSION: Nested L-PCR and sPCR were considered to be complementary methods for the diagnosis and management of symptomatic cytomegalovirus infection.


1998 ◽  
Vol 112 (5) ◽  
pp. 494-496 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enis Alpin Güneri ◽  
Ahmet Ömer İkiz ◽  
Nese Atabey ◽  
Özlem İzci ◽  
Semih Sütay

AbstractA parotid gland mass with presenting features of malignancy is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The histological nature of the lesion must be clearly determined before proceeding with facial nerve sacrificing surgery. Although rare, tuberculosis of the parotid gland must be included in the differential diagnosis of a parotid gland mass especially when the social characteristics of the patient suggests a mycobacterial infection. Primary tuberculosis of the parotid gland is generally encountered among populations with a high incidence of pulmonary disease. The difficulty in the differential diagnosis of a parotid gland malignancy may be helped by a high degree of clinical suspicion, since laboratory tests generally do not identify the specific causative organism. This article reports the first case of parotid gland tuberculosis with clinical and radiodiagnostical features simulating malignancy in which the diagnosis was confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahzaib Ahmad ◽  
Rahim Nadeem Ahmed ◽  
Poonam Jani ◽  
Mattee Ullah ◽  
Hossam Aboulgheit

Abstract Efforts to recognize SARS–CoV-2 infection have focused on respiratory symptoms such as cough and shortness of breath. Although it is also well known that SARS–CoV-2 infection can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, there are emerging reports of SARS–CoV-2 infection causing surgical pathology. We present the first case report of SARS–CoV-2 infection directly causing acute appendicitis, first suspected due to highly atypical histological features and later confirmed as polymerase chain reaction positive appendicular tissue sample.


Author(s):  
Tugba Erat ◽  
Müge Atar ◽  
Tugba Kontbay

AbstractObjectivesCoronavirus disease (COVID-19) rapidly spread worldwide in a few months and was declared as a worldwide pandemic by WHO in March 2020. Transient benign hyperphosphatasemia (THI) is a benign condition associated with marked elevation of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) without any other kidney, bone, and liver pathologies.Case presentationHerein, we report a previously healthy 16-month-old female patient who developed a secondary transient benign hyperphosphatasemia associated with SARS-CoV-2. Patient whole family’s SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results were positive. Since THI is a diagnosis of exclusion, other reasons that may cause ALP elevation should be ruled out. ALP activity decreased and turned to normal ranges within the following month. THI has been reported to be in association with various conditions. Its relationship with many viruses has been reported previously.ConclusionsIf ALP elevation is detected in patients with COVID 19 due to the increasing number of infections, THI should be considered if there is no other accompanying pathology.


2014 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jarmila Konvalinová ◽  
Vlasta Svobodová ◽  
Dobromila Molinková ◽  
Miroslav Svoboda

Our study aimed at using PCR to identify the incidence ofBartonellaspp. in blood of dogs. Altogether 286 dogs of 92 breeds aged 3 month to 17 years were tested from October 2008 to December 2009. Healthy dogs as well as dogs with various clinical symptoms of disease were included in the group. Samples were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) specific for the presence ofBartonellaspp. Following the DNA examination in 286 dogs by PCR and subsequent sequencing, two samples were identified asBartonella henselae(0.7%). Other species ofBartonellawere not found. It was the first time in the Czech Republic when incidence ofBartonellaspp. was determined in dogs.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Paul Emerson ◽  
Ajay Philip ◽  
George M. Varghese ◽  
Regi Thomas

Skeletal tuberculosis is a well-known disease entity. We report the first case involving hyoid bone and the use of polymerase chain reaction-based test in detection and management. A 62-year-old male presented with neck swelling of a 20-day duration along with change of voice and dysphagia. Examination revealed a cystic, osteolytic lesion of the hyoid bone which histopathologically demonstrated features of granulomatous infection. A polymerase chain reaction test confirmed the diagnosis of tuberculosis.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document