Применение методики экстракорпоральной мембранной оксигенации у пациента с респираторным дистресссиндромом на фоне миастении

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by pathologically rapid fatigue of striated muscles [1]. The main symptom of myasthenia gravis is the presence of pathological muscle weakness with involvement of the ocular, bulbar and skeletal muscles in the pathological process. The provoking factors for the development of myasthenia gravis can be infectious diseases, surgery, drugs [2, 3]. The main danger is represented by myasthenic and cholinergic crises, which are characterized by a severe course and high mortality; therefore, the problems of treating myasthenia gravis are still of high medical and social significance. The prevalence of myasthenia gravis is 17.5–20.3 per 100 thousand population, and the number of patients is increasing by 5–10% annually [4, 5]. In recent years, there has been a steady increase in morbidity with an increase in age over 50 years [6, 7]. Myasthenia gravis is a serious disease with a high mortality rate of up to 30–40% [3]. There are difficulties in the early differential diagnosis of muscle weakness in patients with respiratory failure between myasthenia gravis, myasthenic syndrome and critical illness polyneuropathy. These difficulties and insufficient awareness of patients and doctors of various specialties about myasthenia gravis can lead to the choice of the wrong treatment tactics and the development of myasthenic crisis, which is manifested by respiratory failure, requiring respiratory support. The progression of respiratory failure against the background of myasthenic crisis may require the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).It is necessary to expand the differential diagnosis of muscle weakness in a patient during the period of resolution of respiratory failure, allowing to move away from compulsory respiratory support, termination of ECMO. При отсутствии своевременной диагностики нервно-мышечного заболевания длительность процедуры мембранной оксигенации может быть увеличена, тем самым повышая риски побочных осложнений (геморрагические, септические, тромботические). В клиническом наблюдении мы демонстрируем редкое сочетание тяжелой пневмонии, миастении, острого респираторного дистресс-синдрома и проводимой процедуры экстракорпоральной мембранной оксигенации.

Association of circulating calprotectin with lipid profile in axial spondyloarthritis

Calprotectin (CPT) is released during inflammation, also in the context of atherosclerosis. The link between CPT and the atherosclerotic process was evaluated in several diseases. However, studies in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), associated with a high incidence of subclinical atherosclerosis, are scarce. Therefore, we assessed the association of CPT with subclinical atherosclerosis and metabolic risk factors in axSpA. CPT serum levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 163 axSpA patients and 63 controls. Subclinical atherosclerosis was determined in patients by carotid ultrasonography (assessing the presence/absence of carotid plaques and carotid intima-media thickness [cIMT]). Data on inflammation, disease activity, lipid profile and treatment were collected to evaluate its relationship with CPT. axSpA patients evidenced lower CPT levels than controls. CPT showed no association with plaques or cIMT in axSpA. CPT and HDL-cholesterol negatively correlated, while a positive association of CPT with the atherogenic index was disclosed. Additionally, axSpA patients with C-reactive protein values at diagnosis higher than 3?mg/L displayed higher CPT levels. Our study shows no relationship between CPT and markers of subclinical atherosclerosis in axSpA. Nevertheless, it demonstrates an association of CPT with adverse lipid profiles and inflammatory biomarkers, which could further influence on the development of atherosclerosis.We wish to thank all the patients and controls that participated in this study and Begoña Ubilla for technical assistance. FG is a recipient of a Sara Borrell post-doctoral fellowship from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) (Spain), co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF, “Investing in your future”) (grant CD15/00095). SR-M is supported by funds of the RETICS Program (RIER) RD16/0012/0009 (ISCIII, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, ERDF). VM is supported by funds of a Miguel Servet type I programme (grant CP16/00033) (ISCIII, co-funded by ERDF). RL-M is a recipient of a Miguel Servet type I programme fellowship from the ISCIII, co-funded by the ESF (grant CP16/00033). This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors

Recent advances in ankylosing spondylitis: understanding the disease and management

The term spondyloarthritis refers to a group of immune-mediated diseases characterised by inflammation of the axial skeleton, peripheral joints, and entheses. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the most common and characteristic of these entities and even though it was first described over two centuries ago, the understanding of the underlying disease mechanism remains incomplete. It is known that around 40% of patients with AS have subclinical bowel inflammation, suggesting that the origin of the disease could be in the gut. Also, more genes and new molecules have demonstrated a role in the pathogenesis of AS. In this review, we analyse the latest therapies for spondyloarthritis and the most relevant discoveries over the last three years, together with their implications for different aspects of the disease

Drug Safety Issues in Therapy COVID-19

One of the serious problems of modern Health care is a new coronavirus infection — COVID-19, which has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization and has covered more than 190 countries. Despite the measures has been taken to limit contacts between people and isolate patients with suspected coronavirus infection, the number of cases grows exponentially every day. Leading laboratories are working on a vaccine, but according to some optimistic forecasts, it may be available no earlier than 11-12 months. According to published data on attempts using various drug regimens in clinical trials, methodological manuals and clinical guidelines for patient management are constantly being developed and updated depending on the severity of the condition. The appointment of a number of drug combinations should be carried out taking into account the definition of an individual assessment of the benefits and risks, because there is ample evidence of serious side effects.More serious lung tissue lesions are characteristic of patients of an older age group (over 60 years old) with the presence of concomitant diseases, such as cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, diabetes mellitus and obesity, diseases of the bronchopulmonary system and kidneys, which implies taking basic therapy in a constant mode. The appointment of a number of drug combinations should be carried out taking into account the definition of an individual assessment of the benefits and risks, because there is enough evidence of serious side effects, such as the QT interval prolongation, hepatotoxicity, adverse events from the central nervous system. It is necessary to evaluate the interaction of drugs used to treat infections caused by the COVID-19 virus with drugs used in outpatient practice