Inflammatory Biomarkers in the Short-Term Prognosis of Venous Thromboembolism: A Narrative Review

The relationship between inflammation and venous thrombosis is not well understood. An inflammatory response may be both the cause and consequence of venous thromboembolism (VTE). In fact, several risk factors of VTE modulate thrombosis through inflammatory markers. Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is burdened by a remarkable mortality rate, up to 34% in severely ill patients presenting with hemodynamic instability. Initial mortality risk stratification is based on hemodynamic instability. Patients with a situation of hemodynamic stability require immediate further risk assessment based on clinical, imaging, and circulating biomarkers, as well as the presence of comorbidities. Some inflammatory biomarkers have shown potential usefulness in the risk stratification of patients with VTE, especially acute PE. C-reactive protein on admission is associated with 30-day mortality and bleeding in VTE patients. P-selectin is associated with right ventricle dysfunction in PE patients and might be associated with VTE recurrences and the extension of thrombosis. Tissue factor microparticles are associated with VTE recurrence in cancer-associated thrombosis. Other inflammatory biomarkers present scarce evidence (inflammatory cytokines, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fibrinogen, leukocyte count). In this manuscript, we will review the prognostic role of different inflammatory biomarkers available both for clinical practice and research in VTE patients

Mid-Regional Pro-Adrenomedullin, Methemoglobin and Carboxyhemoglobin as Prognosis Biomarkers in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19: An Observational Prospective Study

Depto. de MedicinaFac. de MedicinaTRUEpu

A rare case of stroke as a complication after percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy in a patient with intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism and patent foramen ovale

We present an extremely rare case of a patient with intermediate-high risk pulmonary embolism treated with percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy, complicated with stroke as a form of paradoxical embolism through a previously unknown patent foramen ovale. We reviewed the literature for indications, efficacy, and safety of this procedure, as well as for experience on this technique in patients with patent foramen ovale

Prognostic Value of D-dimer to Lymphocyte Ratio (DLR) in Hospitalized Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Patients: A Validation Study in a National Cohort

Background: This study aimed to validate the role of the D-dimer to lymphocyte ratio (DLR) for mortality prediction in a large national cohort of hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods: A retrospective, multicenter, observational study that included hospitalized patients due to SARS-CoV-2 infection in Spain was conducted from March 2020 to March 2022. All biomarkers and laboratory indices analyzed were measured once at admission. Results: A total of 10,575 COVID-19 patients were included in this study. The mean age of participants was 66.9 (+/- 16) years, and 58.6% (6202 patients) of them were male. The overall mortality rate was 16.3% (n = 1726 patients). Intensive care unit admission was needed in 10.5% (n = 1106 patients), non-invasive mechanical ventilation was required in 8.8% (n = 923 patients), and orotracheal intubation was required in 7.5% (789 patients). DLR presented a c-statistic of 0.69 (95% CI, 0.68-0.71) for in-hospital mortality with an optimal cut-off above 1. Multivariate analysis showed an independent association for in-hospital mortality for DLR > 1 (adjusted OR 2.09, 95% CI 1.09-4.04; p = 0.03); in the same way, survival analysis showed a higher mortality risk for DLR > 1 (HR 2.24; 95% CI 2.03-2.47; p < 0.01). Further, no other laboratory indices showed an independent association for mortality in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: This study confirmed the usefulness of DLR as a prognostic biomarker for mortality associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, being an accessible, cost-effective, and easy-to-use biomarker in daily clinical practice

Mid-Regional Pro-Adrenomedullin, Methemoglobin and Carboxyhemoglobin as Prognosis Biomarkers in Critically Ill Patients with COVID-19: An Observational Prospective Study

Mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM), methemoglobin (MetHb), and carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels have been associated with sepsis. In this study, we assessed the role of this potential biomarkers in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Outcomes were mortality and a combined event (mortality, venous or arterial thrombosis, and orotracheal intubation (OTI)) during a 30-day follow-up. A total of 95 consecutive patients were included, 51.6% required OTI, 12.6% patients died, 8.4% developed VTE, and 3.1% developed arterial thrombosis. MetHb and COHb levels were not associated with mortality nor combined event. Higher MR-proADM levels were found in patients with mortality (median of 1.21 [interquartile range-IQR-0.84;2.33] nmol/L vs. 0.76 [IQR 0.60;1.03] nmol/L, p = 0.011) and combined event (median of 0.91 [IQR 0.66;1.39] nmol/L vs. 0.70 [IQR 0.51;0.82] nmol/L, p &lt; 0.001); the positive likelihood ratio (LR+) and negative likelihood ratio (LR&minus;) for mortality were 2.40 and 0.46, respectively. The LR+ and LR&minus; for combined event were 3.16 and 0.63, respectively. MR-proADM &ge;1 nmol/L was the optimal cut-off for mortality and combined event prediction. The predictive capacity of MR-proADM showed an area under the ROC curve of 0.73 (95% CI, 0.62&ndash;0.81) and 0.72 (95% CI, 0.62&ndash;0.81) for mortality and combined event, respectively. In conclusion, elevated on-admission MR-proADM levels were associated with higher risk of 30-day mortality and 30-day poor outcomes in a cohort of critically ill patients with COVID-19

Sobreinfección por Pneumocystis jirovecii y Staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina tras infección por SARS-CoV2.

We present a case of an 87-year-old nonsmoker female who recovered after infection by SARS-CoV2 and was readmitted two weeks later due to respiratory sepsis. Radiological imaging showed a significant radiological worsening with extensive areas of bronchopneumonia and ground-glass opacities suggestive of organizing pneumonia. Empirical treatment with meropenem 1g/8h was started; however, clinical worsening persisted with tachypnea and desaturation requiring heated high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy, with poor response. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was isolated both in nare screening and sputum, and 16S rRNA polymerase chain reaction in induced sputum was positive for P. jirovecii. Serum (1-3)-beta-D-glucan was normal, and blood cultures were sterile. Antibiotic therapy was adjusted with intravenous linezolid 600mg/12h and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 1600/320mg/6h, plus methylprednisolone 40mg/day. Unfortunately, the patient had no response to optimized treatment and finally died. Opportunistic and resistant microorganisms superinfections should be aware by clinicians in SARS-CoV2 infection, even more, when corticosteroids are widely used

A retrospective analysis of incidence and severity of COVID-19 among hypertensive patients: the other side

Objective The role of hypertension in COVID-19 has not been clearly elucidated yet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in a hypertensive population and assess whether there is a link between blood pressure control and SARS-CoV-2 infection outcomes. Methods This was a single-center retrospective observational study that evaluated the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in a chronic hypertensive population (n=1,637) from a specialized consultation of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Risk of Internal Medicine in a tertiary hospital in Madrid (Spain). Results A total of 147 COVID-19 patients (9%) were found, with a median age of 59 (±14) years, where 77 (52.4%) patients were male. Forty patients required hospitalization (27.2%), 15 patients had severe COVID-19 (10.2%), and 6 patients died (4.1%). Among the causes of hypertension, 104 (70.7%) patients had essential hypertension and 22 (15%) patients presented primary hyperaldosteronism; and 66 (44.9%) patients presented RH. Severe COVID-19 was associated with age over 65 years (crude OR 4.43 [95% CI 1.3–14.2; p = .012]) and diabetes mellitus (crude OR 4.15 [95% CI 1.3–12.9; p = .014]). Conclusion This study showed a lower rate of incidence, hospitalization, and severity of COVID-19 in the hypertensive population