scholarly journals COVID - 19 - a New Challenging Disease for Intensivists and Cardiologists. From Basic Science to the Clinical Setting

Author(s):  
Robert Skalik

A novel coronavirus causing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) has been considered the cause of a large number of lower respiratory tract infections leading to severe respiratory failure in many cases. However, the evidence-based hospital reports show that the COVID -19 infestation may range from an asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic course with an almost bizarre deterioration of life parameters (“silent hypoxia”) through to critically ill patients with multiple organ failure including that of the lungs, kidneys, nervous system and other organs. Moreover, this coronavirus disease may cause significant lung damage in asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patients who recover at home.The virus enters through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2) widely expressed in the cardiovascular system and other organs and tissues, which can result in myocardial injury, myocarditis, acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmias, brain stroke, acute pleuritis, pneumonia and venous thromboembolic events. COVID -19 - induced failure of some central mechanisms controlling breathing and the circulation may explain the mismatch between the clinical symptoms and the objective physiologic life parameters in many patients treated by intensivists or cardiologists. The severity of coronavirus disease is dependent on numerous factors including the magnitude of the host immune response, the impairment of central and peripheral nervous system, age, co-morbidities (e.g. diabetes, arterial hypertension, obesity, chronic heart failure) and presumably genetic proclivity. A brand-new treatment approach with use of alternative or experimental therapies such us Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), plasmapheresis, proinflammatory interleukins - targeted drugs, covalescent plasma transfusion, virus replication inhibitors is obviously needed in some COVID-19 patients.

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 3137
Author(s):  
István Szegedi ◽  
Rita Orbán-Kálmándi ◽  
László Csiba ◽  
Zsuzsa Bagoly

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the most overwhelming medical threat of the past few decades. The infection, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), can cause serious illness leading to respiratory insufficiency, and, in severely ill patients, it can progress to multiple organ failure leading to death. It has been noted from the earliest reports that the disease influences the hemostasis system and a hallmark of severe infection is elevated D-dimer levels. The profound coagulation changes in COVID-19 seem to be linked to inflammation-related events and severe endothelial cell injury. Besides the high incidence of venous thromboembolic events in SARS-CoV-2 infections, arterial events, including cerebrovascular events, were found to be associated with the disease. In this review, we aimed to summarize the available literature on COVID-19-associated coagulopathy and thrombosis. Furthermore, we performed a systematic search of the literature to identify the characteristics of stroke in COVID-19. Our findings showed that acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is the most frequent type of stroke occurring in infected patients. In most cases, stroke was severe (median NIHSS:16) and most of the patients had one or more vascular risk factors. Laboratory findings in AIS patients were consistent with COVID-19-associated coagulopathy, and elevated D-dimer levels were the most common finding. The outcome was unfavorable in most cases, as a large proportion of the reported patients died or remained bedridden. Limited data are available as yet on outcomes after acute vascular interventions in COVID-19 patients. In the future, well-designed studies are needed to better understand the risk of stroke in COVID-19, to optimize treatment, and to improve stroke care.


Author(s):  
Gabriele Cioni ◽  
Ginevra Bellandi ◽  
Stefano Bertolini ◽  
Giacomo Betti ◽  
Wanda Bialek ◽  
...  

Recent epidemiological reports on Chinese population affected by novel coronavirus showed a wide spread of clinical and biochemical alterations, suggesting a relationship between progression of lung damage to acute respiratory distress syndrome and the systemic inflammatory response, triggering an irreversible multiple organ damage and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Bedside ultrasound assessment provides integrated information, describing a multisystemic and dynamic clinical scenario for every patient. Furthermore, this approach allows to concentrate multiple information in the hands of a single operator, also limiting the risk of exposure to infection for healthcare professionals. As per our experience, herewith reported, we described the characteristics of 10 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Ultrasound findings were related to clinical information, blood test analysis, and results of instrumental tests, such as chest X-ray and chest CT. According to our ultrasound data, COVID-19 appears to be a systemic pathology even in those cases of mild to moderate disease. By this multisystem ultrasound approach, we could immediately recognize patients with a diffuse organ involvement and a more severe clinical pattern; moreover, we can protect healthcare workers and limit infection within health facilities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Syeda Mehpara Farhat

The year 2020 started with the news of a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2(SARS-CoV2), induced disease in China which was termed as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This viralinfection soon became pandemic and affected millions of people all over the world. The virus preferentiallyaffects respiratory system causing dry cough and fever, but has the tendency to spread to different organs in the body leading to multiple organ failure. Recent evidences show that corona virus can invade nervous system and damage it. This review is based on different articles and case reports that provide an evidence of neuro-virulent nature of COVID-19 and its consequences. The neuro-invasive property of the virus is divided into threecategories i) Central Nervous System (CNS) manifestations, ii) Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) manifestationsand iii) Skeletal Muscle damage. Headache and dizziness were observed to be common symptoms for CNS,whereas loss of smell and taste for PNS damage due to COVID-19. The aim of this review is, to develop anunderstanding of the devastating effects of COVID-19 on nervous system for the early recognition of virusinduced damage. This information can be used for the development of better therapeutic strategies.


Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire S Duvernoy ◽  
Adeline A Yeo ◽  
Mayme Wong ◽  
David A Cox ◽  
Hyungin M Kim

Background: Raloxifene (RLX) use in postmenopausal women (PMW) with osteoporosis increases risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTE) 2-fold, compared to placebo (PL). Platelet activation is involved in the pathophysiology of arterial thromboses more than venous thromboses, but some data suggest that aspirin may reduce VTE risk associated with estrogen use. This analysis examines the effects of concomitant antiplatelet (AP) therapy on VTE risk in RLX-treated women. Methods: In RUTH, 10,101 PMW with coronary heart disease (CHD) or increased risk of CHD were randomized to either PL or RLX 60 mg/d and followed for a median 5.6 yr. Reports of clinical symptoms of VTE were supported by relevant diagnostic data and adjudicated. Concomitant use of AP agents (aspirin, clopidogrel, ticlopidine, dipyridamole) was allowed. Cox proportional hazard models, with use of warfarin, presence of fracture, and/or hospitalization as covariates, were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Overall, RLX 60 mg/d use was associated with an increased VTE risk [HR 1.44 (95% CI 1.06 –1.95)] from PL. Most women (71%) reported using aspirin, and 14.2% reported using non-aspirin AP agents. VTE risk was similar (HR = 1.04, Table ) for women who used RLX alone versus those who used RLX with AP agents. The increase in VTE risk with RLX compared to PL was similar between women who used any AP prior to VTE and those who did not (interaction P=0.29). Women who used aspirin prior to VTE had a similar increased VTE risk with RLX from PL [HR 1.57(95% CI 1.00 –2.47)], compared to women who did not use aspirin [HR 1.34 (95% CI 0.89 –2.01)] (interaction P=0.62). Conclusion: In RUTH, PMW with CHD or at high risk of CHD treated with RLX had an increased risk of VTE compared to PL. Concomitant use of aspirin or non-aspirin AP agents with RLX therapy did not lower VTE risk from RLX alone.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susana Boronat

Most children with SARS-CoV-2 infection have relatively mild clinical symptoms without fever or pneumonia, although severe cases with multiple-organ failure have been reported. Neurological symptoms, which have been mainly reported in adults, are very rare in children. This article will review 2 different aspects of neurological involvement related to this infection in children. In the first part, we will review the neurological abnormalities reported in children caused by this viral infection. Adults frequently report muscle pain, headache, anosmia, dysgeusia, and occasionally more severe central or peripheral nervous system damage. Neurological involvement seems infrequent in children, although some cases have been reported. In the second part, we will discuss the COVID-19 pandemic impact on the healthcare system of some countries, causing collateral damage to general pediatric care and in particular to those children affected with chronic diseases, mainly neurological conditions, including autism, intellectual disability, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), neuromuscular disorders, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy, and patients needing neurosurgical procedures.


VASA ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sendi ◽  
Toia ◽  
Nussbaumer

Acquired renal arteriovenous fistula is a rare complication following a nephrectomy and its diagnosis may be made many years after the intervention. The closure of the fistula is advisable in most cases, since it represents a risk for heart failure and rupture of the vessel. There are an increasing number of publications describing different techniques of occlusion. The case of a 70-year-old woman with abdominal discomfort due to a large renal arteriovenous fistula, 45 years after nephrectomy, is presented and current literature is reviewed. Percutaneous embolization was performed by placing an occluding balloon through the draining vein followed by the release of nine coils through arterial access. One day after successful occlusion of the fistula, clinical symptoms disappeared.


2019 ◽  
pp. 96-100
Author(s):  
Thi Ngoc Suong Le ◽  
Pham Chi Tran ◽  
Van Huy Tran

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an acute inflammation of the pancreas, usually occurs suddenly with a variety of clinical symptoms, complications of multiple organ failure and high mortality rates. Objectives: To determine the value of combination of HAP score and BISAP score in predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis of the Atlanta 2012 Classification. Patients and Methods: 75 patients of acute pancreatitis hospitalized at Hue Central Hospital between March 2017 and July 2018; HAP and BISHAP score is calculated within the first 24 hours. The severity of AP was classified by the revised Atlanta criteria 2012. Results: When combining the HAP and BISAP scores in predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis, the area under the ROC curve was 0,923 with sensitivity value was 66.7%, specificity value was 97.1%; positive predictive value was 66.7%, negative predictive value was 97.1%. Conclusion: The combination of HAP and BISAP scores increased the sensitivity, predictive value, and prognostic value in predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis of the revised Atlanta 2012 classification in compare to each single scores. Key words: HAPscore, BiSAP score, acute pancreatitis, predicting severity


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