Increased extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) reflects rapid inflammatory oedema and mortality in COVID-19 associated ARDS

OBJECTIVE: Nearly 5 % of the patients with COVID-19 develop an acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) is a marker of pulmonary oedema which is associated with mortality in ARDS. In this study we evaluate whether EVLWI is higher in patients with COVID-19 associated ARDS as compared to controls and whether EVLWI has the potential to monitor disease progression. METHODS: From the day of intubation, EVLWI, cardiac function were monitored by transpulmonary thermodilution in n=25 patients with COVID-19 and compared to a control group of 49 non-COVID-19 ARDS-patients. RESULTS: EVLWI in COVID-19-patients was noticeably elevated and significantly higher than in the control group (17 (11-38) vs. 11 (6-26) mL/kg; p<0.001). High pulmonary vascular permeability index values (2.9 (1.0-5.2) versus 1.9 (1.0-5.2); p=0.003) suggest inflammatory oedema. By contrast, the cardiac parameters SVI, GEF and GEDVI were comparable. High EVLWI values were associated with viral persistence, prolonged intensive care treatment and mortality (23.2±6.7% vs. 30.3±6.0%, p=0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the control group, COVID-19 results in markedly elevated EVLWI-values in patients with ARDS. EVLWI reflects a non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema in COVID-19 associated ARDS and could serve as parameter to monitor ARDS progression.

Predictive performance of PiCCO system and blood gas parameters for early prognosis of patients with sepsis

Purpose: Invasive hemodynamics monitor directed fluids resuscitation remains misgiving issues. This study aims to explore the predictive value of the PiCCO system (pulse indicator continuous cardiac output device) and blood gas parameters on the early prognosis of patients with sepsis.Methods: 42 patients with sepsis were included from January 2013 to January 2015. All patients were stratified into survivor group (n=29) and nonsurvivor group (n=13) based on seven day-mortality. The PiCCO and blood gas parameters at enrollment and 24 hours were compared between two groups. The predictive performance of these parameters was distinguished with Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC). Results: At 24 hours after enrollment, the HR (97.27±22.07 vs. 120.20±20.56), extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) (7.32±2.96 vs. 15.9±11.2), and lactic acid (Lac) (1.62±0.92 vs. 6.33±5.83) level were significantly lower in survivor group (P < 0.05), whereas the cardiac index (CI) (3.67±0.85 vs. 2.98±0.73) and PaO2/FiO2 (242.8±89.68 vs.136.07±78.01) increased significantly. Meanwhile PaO2/FiO2 was negatively correlated with EVLWI (r= -0.673, P < 0.01). The AUC of the combination of Lac with PaO2/FiO2, HR, EVLWI, pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) and Lac at 24 hours were 0.853, 0.739, 0.776, 0.764, and 0.794.Conclusions: The PiCCO and blood gas parameters exhibit superior predictive capability for early prognosis in patients with sepsis, and the combination Lac with PaO2/FiO2 was noninferior under the circumstance of unavailability with PiCCO.

Plasma Midkine Is Associated With 28-Day Mortality and Organ Function in Sepsis

Background: Midkine has been reported to play a crucial role in inflammatory, hypoxia, and tissue injury processes. We aimed to investigate plasma midkine in septic patients and its association with 28-day mortality and organ function. Methods: Septic patients admitted to the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, a tertiary hospital, from November 2017 to March 2018 were enrolled in the study. The baseline characteristics of the septic patients were recorded at admission. A peripheral blood sample was obtained at admission, and plasma midkine levels were evaluated with an immunoassay. All patients were followed up with for 28 days, with all-cause mortality being recorded. Results: A total of 26 septic patients were enrolled, which included 18 survivors and 8 nonsurvivors at day 28. Plasma midkine levels were significantly elevated in the nonsurvivor group compared with the survivors (ng/L, 763.6 [404.7-1305], 268.5 [147.8-511.4]; P = .0387]. Plasma midkine levels were elevated in septic patients with moderate/severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) compared with patients with non/mild ARDS (ng/L, 522.3 [336.6-960.1] vs 243.8 [110.3-478.9]; P = .0135) and in those with acute kidney injury compared with those without (ng/L, 489.8 [259.2-1058] vs 427.9 [129.6-510.3]; P = .0973). Changes in plasma midkine levels were also associated with extravascular lung water index ( P = .063) and pulmonary vascular permeability index ( P = .049). Conclusions: Plasma midkine was associated with 28-day mortality, as well as pulmonary and kidney injury, in septic patients.