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Vasculitis changes in COVID-19 survivors with persistent symptoms: an [18F]FDG-PET/CT study.
Sollini, M, Ciccarelli, M, Cecconi, M, Aghemo, A, Morelli, P, Gelardi, F, Chiti, A
European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. 2021;48(5):1460-1466
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The SARS-CoV-2 infection manifests with a broad spectrum of clinical patterns ranging from minimally or asymptomatic cases to mild illness, to severe infection, to critical disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the radiopharmaceutical, 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG), was able to demonstrate a persistent inflammatory process in the vascular epithelium or in any other site. The study included Covid-19 patients who recovered but complained of unexplained persisting symptoms for more than 30 days during the follow-up visits. The patients where divided into two groups; the long Covid and control group. Results indicate that although the total vascular score was similar in the two groups, the target-to-blood pool ratio was significantly higher in three vascular regions (thoracic aorta, right iliac artery, and femoral arteries) in the long Covid than in controls. Authors conclude that their findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 induces vascular inflammation, which may be responsible for persisting symptoms.
Abstract
PURPOSE Several patients experience unexplained persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 recovering. We aimed at evaluating if 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) was able to demonstrate a persistent inflammatory process. METHODS Recovered adult COVID-19 patients, who complained unexplained persisting symptoms for more than 30 days during the follow-up visits, were invited to participate in the study. Patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were imaged by [18F]FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([18F]FDG-PET/CT). Whole-body [18F]FDG-PET/CT, performed according to good clinical practice, was qualitatively (comparison with background/liver) and semi-quantitatively (target-to-blood pool ratio calculated as average SUVmax artery/average SUVmean inferior vena cava) analyzed. Negative follow-up [18F]FDG-PET/CT images of oncologic patients matched for age/sex served as controls. Mann-Whitney test was used to test differences between groups. SPSS version 26 was used for analyses. RESULTS Ten recovered SARS-CoV-2 patients (seven male and three females, median age 52 years, range 46-80) with persisting symptoms were enrolled in the study. Common findings at visual analysis were increased [18F]FDG uptake in bone marrow and blood vessels (8/10 and 6/10 cases, respectively). [18F]FDG uptake in bone marrow did not differ between cases and controls (p = 0.16). The total vascular score was similar in the two groups (p = 0.95). The target-to-blood pool ratio resulted higher in recovered SARS-CoV-2 patients than in controls. CONCLUSION Although the total vascular score was similar in the two groups, the target-to-blood pool ratio was significantly higher in three vascular regions (thoracic aorta, right iliac artery, and femoral arteries) in the recovered COVID-19 cohort than in controls, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 induces vascular inflammation, which may be responsible for persisting symptoms.
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Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Hospitalized and Critically Ill Children and Adolescents with Coronavirus Disease 2019 at a Tertiary Care Medical Center in New York City.
Chao, JY, Derespina, KR, Herold, BC, Goldman, DL, Aldrich, M, Weingarten, J, Ushay, HM, Cabana, MD, Medar, SS
The Journal of pediatrics. 2020;223:14-19.e2
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Epidemiologic studies have consistently demonstrated that children are at lower risk of developing severe symptoms or critical illness compared with adults. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical profiles and risk factors for critical illness in hospitalised children and adolescents with COVID-19. The study is a retrospective review of 67 children aged between 1 month to 21 years with COVID-19 from a single tertiary care children’s hospital. Out of the 44 children who tested positive, 33 (72%) were admitted to the general paediatric medical unit and 13 (28%) to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Results showed that patients admitted to the PICU were noted to have more severe symptoms and markers of inflammatory response. The most common symptoms at admission were cough (63%) and fever (60.9%). Of the 13 patients in the PICU, 8 (61.5%) were discharged home, and 4 (30.7%) patients remain hospitalized on ventilatory support at day 14. Authors conclude that their study showed a higher rate of PICU admission per hospitalization (28.2%), which they believe may be a reflection of a variety of social determinants that influence health outcomes.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical profiles and risk factors for critical illness in hospitalized children and adolescents with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). STUDY DESIGN Children 1 month to 21 years of age with COVID-19 from a single tertiary care children's hospital between March 15 and April 13, 2020 were included. Demographic and clinical data were collected. RESULTS In total, 67 children tested positive for COVID-19; 21 (31.3%) were managed as outpatients. Of 46 admitted patients, 33 (72%) were admitted to the general pediatric medical unit and 13 (28%) to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Obesity and asthma were highly prevalent but not significantly associated with PICU admission (P = .99). Admission to the PICU was significantly associated with higher C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and pro-B type natriuretic peptide levels and platelet counts (P < .05 for all). Patients in the PICU were more likely to require high-flow nasal cannula (P = .0001) and were more likely to have received Remdesivir through compassionate release (P < .05). Severe sepsis and septic shock syndromes were observed in 7 (53.8%) patients in the PICU. Acute respiratory distress syndrome was observed in 10 (77%) PICU patients, 6 of whom (46.2%) required invasive mechanical ventilation for a median of 9 days. Of the 13 patients in the PICU, 8 (61.5%) were discharged home, and 4 (30.7%) patients remain hospitalized on ventilatory support at day 14. One patient died after withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy because of metastatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS We describe a higher than previously recognized rate of severe disease requiring PICU admission in pediatric patients admitted to the hospital with COVID-19.
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Greater risk of severe COVID-19 in Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic populations is not explained by cardiometabolic, socioeconomic or behavioural factors, or by 25(OH)-vitamin D status: study of 1326 cases from the UK Biobank.
Raisi-Estabragh, Z, McCracken, C, Bethell, MS, Cooper, J, Cooper, C, Caulfield, MJ, Munroe, PB, Harvey, NC, Petersen, SE
Journal of public health (Oxford, England). 2020;42(3):451-460
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has to date resulted in over 6 million cases. Growing reports highlight men and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) cohorts as at higher risk of adverse COVID-19 outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether differential patterns of COVID-19 incidence and severity, by sex and ethnicity, might be explained by cardiometabolic, socio-economic, lifestyle and behavioural exposures. This study is a prospective cohort study of over half a million men and women from across the UK. Results showed that male sex, BAME ethnicity, higher body mass index and greater household size were associated with significantly greater odds of a positive result. However, the sex and ethnicity differential pattern of COVID-19 is not adequately explained by variations in cardiometabolic factors, 25(OH)-vitamin D levels, socio-economic or behavioural factors. Authors conclude that investigation of alternative biological and genetic susceptibilities as well as more comprehensive assessment of the complex economic, social and behavioural differences should be prioritised.
Abstract
BACKGROUND We examined whether the greater severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) amongst men and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals is explained by cardiometabolic, socio-economic or behavioural factors. METHODS We studied 4510 UK Biobank participants tested for COVID-19 (positive, n = 1326). Multivariate logistic regression models including age, sex and ethnicity were used to test whether addition of (1) cardiometabolic factors [diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, prior myocardial infarction, smoking and body mass index (BMI)]; (2) 25(OH)-vitamin D; (3) poor diet; (4) Townsend deprivation score; (5) housing (home type, overcrowding) or (6) behavioural factors (sociability, risk taking) attenuated sex/ethnicity associations with COVID-19 status. RESULTS There was over-representation of men and BAME ethnicities in the COVID-19 positive group. BAME individuals had, on average, poorer cardiometabolic profile, lower 25(OH)-vitamin D, greater material deprivation, and were more likely to live in larger households and in flats/apartments. Male sex, BAME ethnicity, higher BMI, higher Townsend deprivation score and household overcrowding were independently associated with significantly greater odds of COVID-19. The pattern of association was consistent for men and women; cardiometabolic, socio-demographic and behavioural factors did not attenuate sex/ethnicity associations. CONCLUSIONS In this study, sex and ethnicity differential pattern of COVID-19 was not adequately explained by variations in cardiometabolic factors, 25(OH)-vitamin D levels or socio-economic factors. Factors which underlie ethnic differences in COVID-19 may not be easily captured, and so investigation of alternative biological and genetic susceptibilities as well as more comprehensive assessment of the complex economic, social and behavioural differences should be prioritised.
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Liver injury is associated with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis of retrospective studies.
Parohan, M, Yaghoubi, S, Seraji, A
Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology. 2020;50(8):924-935
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Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause intestinal, respiratory, neuronal and hepatic diseases, and may lead to respiratory distress syndrome, organ failure, and even death in severe cases. The aim of this study was to assess the association between serum levels of Aspartate aminotransferase [enzyme], Alanine aminotransferase [enzyme], total Bilirubin [yellowish blood pigment] and Albumin [protein] with severity of COVID-19 infection. This study is a systemic review and meta-analysis of 20 retrospective studies conducted in China. The sample size of studies ranged from 21 to 651 patients (mean age, 53.3 years). Results indicate that high serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin and lower serum levels of albumin are associated with a significant increase in the severity of COVID-19 infection. Authors conclude that attention should be paid to monitor the occurrence of liver dysfunction in patients with COVID-19 infection.
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is a major threat to human beings. Lung injury has been reported as the major outcome of COVID-19 infection. However, liver damage has also been considered to occur in severe cases. The current meta-analysis of retrospective studies was carried out to summarize available findings on the association between liver injury and severity of COVID-19 infection. Online databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched to detect relevant publications up to 1 April 2020, using relevant keywords. To pool data, a fixed- or random-effects model was used depending on the heterogeneity between studies. Furthermore, publication bias test and sensitivity analysis were also applied. In total, 20 retrospective studies with 3428 COVID-19 infected patients (severe cases, n = 1455; mild cases, n = 1973), were included in this meta-analysis. Higher serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (weighted mean difference, 8.84 U/L; 95% confidence interval [CI] 5.97 to 11.71; P < 0.001), alanine aminotransferase (weighted mean difference, 7.35 U/L; 95% CI, 4.77 to 9.93; P < 0.001), total bilirubin (weighted mean difference, 2.30 mmol/L; 95% CI, 1.24 to 3.36; P < 0.001), and lower serum levels of albumin (weighted mean difference, -4.24 g/L; 95% CI, -6.20 to -2.28; P < 0.001) were associated with a significant increase in the severity of COVID-19 infection. The incidence of liver injury, as assessed by serum analysis (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, and albumin levels), seems to be higher in patients with severe COVID-19 infection.