scholarly journals The role of high-dose steroid therapy in Covid-19 pneumonia

Author(s):  
Ayperi Ozturk ◽  
Figen Ozturk Ergur ◽  
Suna Kavurgacı ◽  
Melahat Uzel Şener ◽  
Murat Yıldız

Introduction: Today, whereas hypoxemia and respiratory failure is the major challenging problem in the course of severe COVID-19 pneumonia, to control the disease at a mild-moderate stage or to stop the inflammation by recognizing the cytokine storm early should be the most prominent goal. We aimed to reveal the clinical efficacy and safety of short-term high-dose corticosteroids in severe COVID-19. Material and Methods: This retrospective observational study consisted of 54 patients who were given high-dose steroid (HDS (>250 mg/day methylprednisolone, 3 days.). Low-dose steroid (LDS) therapy (dexamethasone 8 mg ) was applied to all patients. HDS group was reviewed in terms of decreasing hospital mortality and preventing fibrosis development in follow-up. Results: During the observation period, out of 317 severe COVID-19 pneumonia hospitalized, HDS and LDS were administered to 54 and 216 patients, respectively. Higher body mass index, younger age, more oxygen need of patients at admission, and more need for advanced oxygen therapy during hospitalization were found in the HDS group (p<0.001). Furthermore, 18.5% of patients in the HDS group had need transfer to the intensive care unit whereas it was 3.8% in LDS (p<0.001). Additionally, the mortality rate was determined higher in the HDS group (25. 9% vs 9.9%, p<0.001). The HDS group had lower saturated O2 [IQR, 85% (76-89), p <0.001], and higher ferritin at admission. It was found that HDS was given simultaneously with the increased ferritin with deepening lymphopenia on the third and fifth days. There was no difference in fibrosis development between HDS patients receive and not (15.4% vs 26.2%, p=0.11) Conclusion: The use of HDS in hospitalized COVID-19 patients remains unclear. Along with this, our study demonstrated the use of high-dose corticosteroids might not be associated with a lower mortality rate among hospitalized severe COVID-19 patients.

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 416-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Rosignoli ◽  
Stephen Myles Potter ◽  
Andres Gonzalez ◽  
Sarina Amin ◽  
Syed G. Khurshid

We report a case of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) that developed 1 month after an intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide that was administered during removal of a chalazion. The subretinal fluid and ipsilateral visual acuity (VA) worsened with initial observation. The edema resolved with verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT) 1 month after diagnosis, but VA did not improve during short-term follow-up. We conclude that CSC can occur as a complication of low-dose intrapalpebral corticosteroid administration and provide another example of the therapeutic role of PDT in the management of this disease.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pradeesh Sivapalan ◽  
Niklas R. Jørgensen ◽  
Alexander G. Mathioudakis ◽  
Josefin Eklöf ◽  
Therese Lapperre ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Long-term treatment with corticosteroids causes loss of bone density, but the effects of using short-term high-dose systemic-corticosteroid therapy to treat acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are unclear. Our aim was to determine whether high-dose corticosteroid therapy affected bone turnover markers (BTMs) to a greater extent compared to low-dose corticosteroid therapy. Methods The CORTICO-COP trial (NCT02857842) showed that an eosinophil-guided corticosteroid intervention led to approximately 60% lower accumulated corticosteroid dose for hospitalized patients with AECOPD (low-dose group) compared with 5-day standard corticosteroid treatment (high-dose group). We compared the levels of BTMs C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX) and procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) in 318 participants during AECOPD and at 1- and 3-month follow-up visits. Results CTX decreased and P1NP increased significantly over time in both treatment groups. There were no significant differences between the groups at 1- or 3-months follow-up for P1NP. A significant drop in CTX was seen at 3 months (down Δ24% from the baseline, p = 0.017) for the high dose group. Conclusion Short-term, high-dose systemic corticosteroid treatment caused a rapid suppression of biomarkers of bone resorption. Corticosteroids did not suppress biomarkers of bone formation, regardless of patients receiving low or high doses of corticosteroids. This therapy was, therefore, harmless in terms of bone safety, in our prospective series of COPD patients. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02857842. Submitted August 2nd, 2016.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 791-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roelof Willemze ◽  
Stefan Suciu ◽  
Franco Mandelli ◽  
Stijn J.M. Halkes ◽  
Jean-Pierre Marie ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 791 The AML-12 randomized phase III trial of the EORTC and GIMEMA Leukemia Groups assessed the efficacy and toxicity of HD-AraC (3 g/m2/12 hrs for 4 days) combined with daunorubicin (50 mg/sqm for 3 days) and etoposide (50 mg/sqm for 5 days) vs SD-AraC (100 mg/sqm for 10 days) combined with the same drugs. Patients (pts) in complete remission (CR) received consolidation consisting of AraC (500 mg/sqm/12 hrs for 6 days) and daunorubicin (50 mg/sqm for 3 days). Subsequently an allogeneic (allo-SCT) or autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) was planned according to donor availability, cytogenetics and age. A 2nd randomization was performed after consolidation in pts without a donor: auto-SCT followed or not by low dose IL-2 (4-8 × 106 IU s.c. for 5 days per month) during one year. A total of 577 patients were required to be randomized for the 2nd question in order to reach 255 events (relapses or deaths) which would allow to detect a 11.5% increase in the 3-year disease-free survival (DFS) from 50% to 61.5% corresponding to hazard ratio (HR) = 0.70 (2-sided alpha=5%, statistical power=80%). Randomization was performed centrally; the 2nd randomization was stratified for induction treatment, cytogenetic/molecular genetic group, number of courses to reach CR, auto-SCT planned (No/Yes) and center. Intent-to-treat analysis was done. From 9/1999 till 1/2008, 2005 previously untreated AML pts (APL excluded), age<61 years, were randomized (891 by EORTC-LG and 1114 by GIMEMA) and 104 (GIMEMA) were registered to receive SD-AraC (+etoposide+daunorubicine) in induction. After 1 or 2 courses of induction, CR was achieved in 1377 patients. Between 4/2000 and 5/2008 550 (230 EORTC, 320 GIMEMA) were randomized for the IL-2 question: 276 in IL-2, 274 Observation (Obs) arm; the remaining patients were not randomized due to prolonged hypoplasia after consolidation or after auto-SCT, or refusal of the patient or a planned allo-SCT. The 2 groups were well balanced with respect to the stratification factors, age, sex, WBC counts and history of the disease. Currently, maintenance/observation period has been documented for 144 IL-2 and 144 Obs patients. The patients received a median of 30 s.c. injections (range 3-60) of IL-2. In more than 75% of patients, the mean dose was 6 × 106 IU per injection. Grade 3-4 toxicity was more frequent in the IL-2 compared to Obs arm and consisted of hypersensitivity (4.2% vs 0%), fatigue (9% vs 1.4%), rigor/chills (4.2% vs 0%), arthralgia/myalgia (3.5% vs 0%). A total of 32 patients (22.2%) out of 144 stopped IL-2 prematurely based on patient refusal or medical decision due to toxicity. In the Obs arm, 4 (2.8%) patients out of 144 went off study due to toxicity. Maintenance/observation period has not yet been documented for 132 IL-2 and 130 Obs patients. Among them 28 (21.2%) vs 13 (10%) respectively went off-study due to toxicity of the previous treatment (autoSCT or consolidation), 41 vs 45 due to early relapse, 9 vs 11 due to protocol violation, 9 vs 5 due to other reason. For the total of 550 patients, the median follow-up from the 2nd randomization was 3.6 years. As of July 2009, a total of 269 DFS events were reported: 132 (IL-2 arm) vs 137 (Obs arm); among them 242 relapses (121 vs 121) and 27 deaths without relapses (11 vs 16). The DFS from 2nd randomization was similar in the 2 groups: the 3-yr DFS rate was 44.1% (IL-2) vs 42.0% (Obs), hazard ratio (HR)=0.93 (95% CI 0.74-1.19), p=0.57. A total of 106 patients died in each treatment group. The 3-yr overall survival rate was 54.1% (IL-2) vs 55.9% (Obs), HR=1.01 (95% CI 0.77-1.32), p=0.94. The initial treatment received/randomized did not impact the treatment outcome after the 2nd randomization. This evaluation of the second randomization (IL-2 vs Obs) of the EORTC-GIMEMA AML-12 trial shows that, with a median follow-up of 3.6 years, low dose IL-2 maintenance does not lead to a higher DFS and overall survival. Disclosures: Muus: Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.


2009 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
pp. S200
Author(s):  
M. Colusso ◽  
E. Zaranko ◽  
C. Terzi ◽  
M. Cheli ◽  
P. Stroppa ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Shalini Gupta ◽  
Poonam Gupta ◽  
Rashi Verma ◽  
Basudeb Gosh ◽  
Rakesh Bhardwaj

Background: Myopia, commonly referred to as short sightedness is a form of refractive error and is a very common cause of visual disability throughout the world. Methods: Hospital based prospective study conducted on 100 patients of Myopia attending to Department of Opthalmolgy. Results: There was no significant difference in the age, gender distribution, baseline myopia progression or follow-up duration between patients who used night application compared with daytime atropine. Effectiveness was better with daytime application. Conclusion: 1% atropine eye drops were well tolerated and efficacious for the retardation of progressive myopia in Indian eyes. Effectiveness was better with daytime application. Further studies are necessary to assess the role of 1% atropine in the rapid progressors and patients poorly responding to low-dose atropine. Keywords: Myopia, Atropine, low dose.


Perfusion ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 026765912199599
Author(s):  
Esther Dreier ◽  
Maximilian Valentin Malfertheiner ◽  
Thomas Dienemann ◽  
Christoph Fisser ◽  
Maik Foltan ◽  
...  

Background: The role of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) in patients with COVID-19-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) still remains unclear. Our aim was to investigate the clinical course and outcome of those patients and to identify factors associated with the need for prolonged ECMO therapy. Methods: A retrospective single-center study on patients with VV ECMO for COVID-19-associated ARDS was performed. Baseline characteristics, ventilatory and ECMO parameters, and laboratory and virological results were evaluated over time. Six months follow-up was assessed. Results: Eleven of 16 patients (68.8%) survived to 6 months follow-up with four patients requiring short-term (<28 days) and seven requiring prolonged (⩾28 days) ECMO support. Lung compliance before ECMO was higher in the prolonged than in the short-term group (28.1 (28.8–32.1) ml/cmH2O vs 18.7 (17.7–25.0) ml/cmH2O, p = 0.030). Mechanical ventilation before ECMO was longer (19 (16–23) days vs 5 (5–9) days, p = 0.002) and SOFA score was higher (12.0 (10.5–17.0) vs 10.0 (9.0–10.0), p = 0.002) in non-survivors compared to survivors. Low viral load during the first days on ECMO tended to indicate worse outcomes. Seroconversion against SARS-CoV-2 occurred in all patients, but did not affect outcome. Conclusions: VV ECMO support for COVID-19-induced ARDS is justified if initiated early and at an experienced ECMO center. Prolonged ECMO therapy might be required in those patients. Although no relevant predictive factors for the duration of ECMO support were found, the decision to stop therapy should not be made dependent of the length of ECMO treatment.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1562.1-1563
Author(s):  
L. Sun ◽  
J. Liu ◽  
W. Zheng

Background:Vascular involvement is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in Behcet’s Disease (BD)1. Surgical treatments are difficult for Vaculo-BD (VBD) patients due to the high risk of serious postoperative complications without effective and promptly perioperative immunotherapy2, 3. Anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) therapy has been reported as a potential treatment in severe VBD, e.g. infliximab (IFX) and adalimumab (ADA). However, only few case reports are available regarding the fully humanized monoclonal antibody to TNF-α, golimumab (GOL), in the management of VBD4.Objectives:The objective of this study was to report the efficacy and safety of GOL for the treatment of severe and/or refractory VBD.Methods:We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and safety profile of patients with severe and/or refractory VBD treated with GOL in our medical center between 2018 to 2020.Results:Nine VBD patients (8 male and 1 female) were enrolled, with a mean age and median course of 37±8.6 years and 72 months (range 12 to 300), respectively. Cardiac involvements (severe aortic regurgitation secondary to BD) were presented in 7 patients, including 2 patients with post-operative paravalvular leakage (PVL) after aortic valve replacement surgery. Multiple vascular lesions were documented in the other 2 patients, including one patient with life-threatening multiple pulmonary aneurysms, pulmonary thromboembolism and recurrent deep vein thrombosis, and another patient with abdominal aortic pseudoaneurysm and multiple artery stenosis and occlusion. Prior to GOL therapy, all patients experienced disease progression despite high-dose glucocorticoids combined with multiple immunosuppressants. Moreover, seven patients required effective and fast control of inflammation and a decrease of glucocorticoid dose during the perioperative period. They were treated with GOL, 50mg every 4 weeks, in combination with background low-or medium-dose glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, for a median of 6 (range 3-15) months. After a mean duration of follow-up of 10 (range 2-6) months, all patients achieved improvement both in clinical symptoms and serum inflammation markers. The ESR level [4.88±4.94 mm/h vs 31.13±31.78mm/h, P<0.01] and CRP level [1.9 (0.11-3.73)mg/L vs 24.3 (0.4-85.57)mg/L, P<0.01] significantly decreased. The dosage of glucocorticoid[10 (0-15) vs 40 (0-100)mg/d, P<0.01] effectively tapered, indicating a potential steroid-sparing effect. No newly-onset aneurysm and recurrent venous thrombosis were observed. Also, one patient had a marked reduction in size and number of pulmonary aneurysms. No post-operative PVL was observed in the five patients after Bentall operation with a median follow-up of 10 months. One patient with severe aortic regurgitation remained stable and without surgical intervention with the treatment of GOL for 16 months. No severe complication occurred in one patient after underwent endovascular repair of abdominal aorta for 8 months. GOL was well-tolerated, and no serious adverse event was observed.Conclusion:Our results suggested that GOL is safe and effective for the treatment of patients with severe and / or refractory VBD. Further controlled studies are warranted to confirm the therapeutic potential of GOL in VBD patients.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (12) ◽  
pp. 841-849
Author(s):  
Chunmei Xu ◽  
Ping Wang ◽  
Huikai Miao ◽  
Tianyue Xie ◽  
Xiaojun Zhou ◽  
...  

AbstractA potential reduction of goiter volume (GV) of recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) on multinodular goiters (MNG) was previously reported but controversial. Hence we conducted a meta-analysis to estimate the effect of rhTSH-stimulated radioiodine therapy in patients with MNG. PubMed, Cochrane, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang databases were searched. Mean difference (MD) and odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were derived by using an inverse variance random-effects model and fixed-effects model, respectively. Six studies (n=237) were involved in the analysis. For 12 months follow up, high dose (>0.1 mg) of rhTSH significantly reduced GV (MD=17.61; 95% CI=12.17 to 23.04; p<0.00001) compared with placebo. No effective pooled results of low dose of rhTSH (<0.1 mg) were applicable for only one study included. For 6 months follow up, the source of heterogeneity was determined by subgroup and sensitivity analysis. High dose group showed vast improvement in GV reduction (MD=16.62; 95% CI=1.34 to 31.90; p=0.03). The reduction of low dose group compared with placebo was inferior to high dose group. No available data were obtained to assess the influence of rhTSH after 36 months follow up for the only included study. Hypothyroidism incidence was higher for rhTSH group. No publication bias was seen. High dose of rhTSH treatment-stimulated radioactive 131I therapy after 6 months and 12 months follow up had a better effect in reducing GV, but with higher incidence of hypothyroidism. Owing to the limited methodological quality, more clinical researches are warranted in the future.


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