SARS-CoV-2 infection induces a dual response in liver function tests: Association with mortality during hospitalization

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with abnormal liver function tests. We hypothesized that early altered liver biochemistries at admission might have different clinical relevance than subsequent changes during hospitalization. A single-center retrospective study was conducted on 540 consecutive hospitalized patients, PCR-diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2. Liver test abnormalities were defined as the elevation of either gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), or aspartate aminotransferase (AST), above the upper limit of normality set by our laboratory. Linear mixed models (LMM) evaluated longitudinal associations, incorporating all available follow-up laboratory chemistries. By the end of the follow-up period, 502 patients (94.5%) were discharged (109 (20.5%) died). A total of 319 (64.3%) had at least one abnormal liver test result at admission. More prevalent were elevated AST (40.9%) and GGT (47.3%). Abnormalities were not associated with survival but with respiratory complications at admission. Conversely, LMM models adjusted for age and sex showed that longitudinal increases during hospitalization in ferritin, GGT, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as well as a decreased albumin levels, were associated with reduced survival. This dual pattern of liver damage might reconcile previous conflicting reports. GGT and ALP trajectories could be useful to determine who might need more surveillance and intensive care

Impact of biological agents on postsurgical complications in inflammatory bowel disease: A multicentre study of Geteccu

Background: The impact of biologics on the risk of postoperative complications (PC) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still an ongoing debate. This lack of evidence is more relevant for ustekinumab and vedolizumab. Aims: To evaluate the impact of biologics on the risk of PC. Methods: A retrospective study was performed in 37 centres. Patients treated with biologics within 12 weeks before surgery were considered “exposed”. The impact of the exposure on the risk of 30-day PC and the risk of infections was assessed by logistic regression and propensity score-matched analysis. Results: A total of 1535 surgeries were performed on 1370 patients. Of them, 711 surgeries were conducted in the exposed cohort (584 anti-TNF, 58 vedolizumab and 69 ustekinumab). In the multivariate analysis, male gender (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.2–2.0), urgent surgery (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2–2.2), laparotomy approach (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1–1.9) and severe anaemia (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3–2.6) had higher risk of PC, while academic hospitals had significantly lower risk. Exposure to biologics (either anti-TNF, vedolizumab or ustekinumab) did not increase the risk of PC (OR: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.97–1.58), although it could be a risk factor for postoperative infections (OR 1.5; 95% CI: 1.03–2.27). Conclusions: Preoperative administration of biologics does not seem to be a risk factor for overall PC, although it may be so for postoperative infections

Pioderma gangrenoso bilateral asociado a colitis ulcerosa y proctocolectomía restauradora

La enfermedad inflamatoria intestinal (EII) se relaciona con un amplio espectro de manifestaciones extra-intestinales. Entre ellas, las afecciones dermatológicas -como el eritema nudoso (EN), las aftas orales o el pioderma gangrenoso (PG)- son las segundas en frecuencia. El PG es una dermatosis neutrofílica que ocurre en aproximadamente un 1% de los pacientes con EII, siendo más frecuente en mujeres que en varones1. Recientes estudios apuntan a una mayor incidencia del PG en pacientes con colitis ulcerosa (CU) que con enfermedad de Crohn (EC), y en prácticamente la totalidad de los casos publicados existe o ha existido afectación cólica1. El PG puede ocurrir antes, después o de manera simultánea al diagnóstico de la EII, y parece no estar relacionado con su curso y gravedad2. Se caracteriza por la aparición de una o varias pústulas en la piel que rápidamente evolucionan a una úlcera muy dolorosa, a veces de gran tamaño, de fondo exudativo, con un borde de crecimiento violáceo perilesional sobreelevado. El estudio anatomopatológico no es específico, pero permite excluir otras causas potenciales de ulceración, como las infecciones o la isquemia crónica. Su tratamiento incluye medidas locales, como el desbridamiento del tejido necrótico y los antibióticos tópicos y, en la mayoría de los casos, es necesario el tratamiento sistémico con corticoides (prednisona 1-1, 5 mg/kg/día o equivalente). En los casos refractarios —hasta un 50% en algunas series— se emplean inmunosupresores como los inhibidores de la calcineurina o los anti-TNF alfa..

Clinical characteristics of patients in Peru with human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1-associated tropical spastic paraparesis

BACKGROUND: Human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is associated with tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP). Peru is an area of endemicity for HTLV-1. METHODS: All patients with suspected cases of TSP referred to our institute (Institute of Tropical Medicine Alexander von Humboldt, Lima, Peru) from 1989 through 2002 were interviewed and tested for HTLV-1. All patients with positive results were evaluated by an expert physician. Disease progression was defined as "rapid" if the time between TSP onset and inability to walk unaided was <2 years. RESULTS: Among 165 patients enrolled, the symptoms and signs most frequently found were spasticity (in 97.5% of patients), hyperreflexia (95.4%), lower limb paresthesia (90.2%), pyramidal signs (82.6%), urinary complaints (82.0%), and lumbar pain (79.0%). Rapid progression was present in 21.5% of patients; mean age at TSP onset was higher among these patients than among slow progressors (P<.001). Severe spasticity, diminished vibratory sensation, and tremor were found more frequently among rapid progressors, compared with slow progressors. CONCLUSIONS: HTLV-1--associated TSP is frequently diagnosed in areas of HTLV-1-endemicity. A subgroup of patients experiences rapid disease progression