Thrombocytopenia and platelet transfusions in ICU patients: an international inception cohort study (PLOT-ICU)

Purpose Thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 150 × 109/L) is common in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and is likely associated with worse outcomes. In this study we present international contemporary data on thrombocytopenia in ICU patients. Methods We conducted a prospective cohort study in adult ICU patients in 52 ICUs across 10 countries. We assessed frequencies of thrombocytopenia, use of platelet transfusions and clinical outcomes including mortality. We evaluated pre-selected potential risk factors for the development of thrombocytopenia during ICU stay and associations between thrombocytopenia at ICU admission and 90-day mortality using pre-specified logistic regression analyses. Results We analysed 1166 ICU patients; the median age was 63 years and 39.5% were female. Overall, 43.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) 40.4–46.1) had thrombocytopenia; 23.4% (20–26) had thrombocytopenia at ICU admission, and 19.8% (17.6–22.2) developed thrombocytopenia during their ICU stay. Non-AIDS-, non-cancer-related immune deficiency, liver failure, male sex, septic shock, and bleeding at ICU admission were associated with the development of thrombocytopenia during ICU stay. Among patients with thrombocytopenia, 22.6% received platelet transfusion(s), and 64.3% of in-ICU transfusions were prophylactic. Patients with thrombocytopenia had higher occurrences of bleeding and death, fewer days alive without the use of life-support, and fewer days alive and out of hospital. Thrombocytopenia at ICU admission was associated with 90-day mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.7; 95% CI 1.19–2.42). Conclusion Thrombocytopenia occurred in 43% of critically ill patients and was associated with worse outcomes including increased mortality. Platelet transfusions were given to 23% of patients with thrombocytopenia and most were prophylactic.publishedVersio

Prognostic Performance of GRACE and TIMI Risk Scores in Critically ill Patients with Sepsis and a Concomitant Myocardial Infarction

International audienc

Benralizumab: A potential tailored treatment for life-threatening DRESS in the COVID-19 era

International audienceNo abstract availabl

Early Reversal of Right Ventricular Dysfunction after Venovenous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia

International audienceNo abstract availabl

In-hospital outcomes after acute myocardial infarction with obstructive coronary artery disease in critically ill patients hospitalized for non-cardiac disease

Abstract Background Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the major cardiac complications in patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) for non-cardiac disease. A better knowledge of ischemic and bleeding risks in these patients is needed to identify those most likely to benefit from specific cardiac management. We therefore assessed the incidence and predictors of a composite outcome of severe ischemic event (AMI recurrence, ischemic stroke), major bleeding, or all-cause death in this setting. Methods In this multicenter retrospective study, all consecutive adult patients admitted for non-cardiac disease to four French university hospital ICUs between January 2012 and December 2018 who had an AMI with obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD) during the ICU stay were considered for inclusion. AMI with OCAD was defined as an elevated cardiac troponin value associated with at least one sign (clinical, electrocardiographic, or echocardiographic) suggestive of myocardial ischemia and presence of OCAD on coronary angiography. The primary endpoint was in-hospital occurrence of the composite outcome. Results Ninety-six patients [median age 69 years, 22 women (23%), 59 with sepsis (61%), 35 with ST elevation (37%), median sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) of 8 on the day of AMI] were included. The median peak cardiac troponin value was 131 (IQR 44–303) times the upper reference limit. Dual antiplatelet, therapeutic anticoagulation, and early mechanical reperfusion therapies were administered in 61 (64%), 68 (71%), and 47 (49%) patients, respectively. The composite outcome occurred in 48 (50%) patients. Severe ischemic events occurred in 17 (18%) patients and major bleeding in 26 (27%) patients; 26 patients (27%) died in the hospital. AMI management was not significantly different in patients with and without the composite outcome. A history of arterial hypertension (HR 2.05, 95% CI 1.01–4.16) and high SOFA score at the time of AMI (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.00–1.15) were independent risk factors for the composite outcome. Conclusions Patients who have an AMI with OCAD during an ICU stay for non-cardiac disease are at risk of a composite outcome of severe ischemia, major bleeding, and death. A history of arterial hypertension and high SOFA scores were independent hazards for poor prognosis. Graphical Abstrac

Safeguarding continuing cardiovascular research excellence and quality publications in France: A working document from the French Society of Cardiology

International audienceBackground : France has a long history of successful cardiovascular research and scientific innovations, but its continued success cannot be taken for granted.Aims : To identify current obstacles to cardiovascular research in France and to crystallize the analysis into recommendations for maintained and enhanced research excellence in the future.Methods : The French Society of Cardiology set up seven Working Groups, each comprising four to eight cardiologists, covering a spectrum of research institutes, hospitals, specialties, ages and research experience. The Working Groups met regularly in person or by conference call to analyse experiences, refine situation assessments and formulate recommendations for improvements. Results and suggestions were presented to a Core Team, which worked to synthesize, prioritize and organize the findings into a consolidated situation assessment and generate a set of action-orientated recommendations.Results : Four key areas of action were identified: stronger focus on the generation of high-quality data; facilitation of future cardiovascular research; greater promotion and support for research among young cardiologists; and increased focus and support for communications. Most recommendations targeted structural shortcomings and may be implemented at low additional financial cost.Conclusions : It is possible to maintain, and even increase, the quality of cardiovascular research in France and to boost the conversion of successful projects into high-impact publications, without major increases in funding. Intense collaboration between specialties and organizations is necessary to achieve sustainable results

ICU strain and outcome in COVID-19 patients—A multicenter retrospective observational study

Purpose To compare the characteristics, management, and prognosis of patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) for coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 during the first two waves of the outbreak and to evaluate the relationship between ICU strain (ICU demand due to COVID-19 admissions) and mortality. Methods In a multicentre retrospective study, 1166 COVID-19 patients admitted to five ICUs in France between 20 February and 31 December 2020 were included. Data were collected at each ICU from medical records. A Cox proportional-hazards model identified factors associated with 28-day mortality. Results 640 patients (55%) were admitted during the first wave (February to June 2020) and 526 (45%) during the second wave (July to December 2020). ICU strain was lower during the second wave (-0.81 [-1.04 –-0.31] vs. 1.18 [-0.34–1.29] SD when compared to mean COVID-19 admission in each center during study period, PConclusion The characteristics and the management of patients varied between the first and the second wave of the pandemic. Rather than the wave, ICU strain was independently associated with 28-day mortality, but not with hospital mortality

Albumin versus saline infusion for sepsis-related peripheral tissue hypoperfusion: a proof-of-concept prospective study

International audienceBackground: Albumin has potential endothelial protective effects through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effect of albumin on peripheral tissue perfusion in human sepsis remains poorly known. Methods: Bi-centric prospective study included patients with sepsis with or without shock and prolonged CRT > 3 s despite initial resuscitation. Clinicians in charge of the patients were free to infuse either saline 500 mL or human serum albumin 20% 100 mL over 15 min. Global hemodynamic parameters as well as peripheral tissue perfusion were analyzed after 1 (H1) and 4 h (H4). The primary endpoint was CRT normalization (Results: 62 patients were screened, and 50 patients (13 sepsis and 37 septic shock) were included, 21 in the saline group and 29 in the albumin group. SOFA score was 8 [5–11], and SAPS II was 53 [45–70]. Median age was 68 [60–76] years with a higher proportion of men (74%). The primary sources of infection were respiratory (54%) and abdominal (24%). At baseline, comorbidities, clinical and biological characteristics were similar between groups . At H1, CRT normalization (Conclusion: In patients with resuscitated sepsis, albumin infusion might lead to greater improvement of tissue hypoperfusion compared to saline. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05094856.gov Identifier: NCT05094856

Impairment of Neutrophil Functions and Homeostasis in COVID-19 Patients: Association with Disease Severity

International audienceAbstract Background A dysregulated immune response is emerging as a key feature of critical illness in COVID-19. Neutrophils are key components of early innate immunity that, if not tightly regulated, contribute to uncontrolled systemic inflammation. We sought to decipher the role of neutrophil phenotypes, functions, and homeostasis in COVID-19 disease severity and outcome. Methods By using flow cytometry, this longitudinal study compares peripheral whole-blood neutrophils from 90 COVID-19 ICU patients with those of 22 SARS-CoV-2-negative patients hospitalized for severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and 38 healthy controls. We also assessed correlations between these phenotypic and functional indicators and markers of endothelial damage as well as disease severity. Results At ICU admission, the circulating neutrophils of the COVID-19 patients showed continuous basal hyperactivation not seen in CAP patients, associated with higher circulating levels of soluble E- and P-selectin, which reflect platelet and endothelial activation. Furthermore, COVID-19 patients had expanded aged-angiogenic and reverse transmigrated neutrophil subsets\textemdash both involved in endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation. Simultaneously, COVID-19 patients had significantly lower levels of neutrophil oxidative burst in response to bacterial formyl peptide. Moreover patients dying of COVID-19 had significantly higher expansion of aged-angiogenic neutrophil subset and greater impairment of oxidative burst response than survivors. Conclusions These data suggest that neutrophil exhaustion may be involved in the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19 and identify angiogenic neutrophils as a potentially harmful subset involved in fatal outcome. Graphic Abstrac

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation for refractory in-hospital cardiac arrest: A retrospective cohort study

International audienceBackground: Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is a rescue therapy for refractory cardiac arrest, but its high mortality has raised questions about patient selection. No selection criteria have been proposed for patients experiencing in-hospital cardiac arrest. We aimed to identify selection criteria available at the time ECPR was considered for patients with in-hospital cardiac arrest. We analyzed data of in-hospital cardiac arrest patients undergoing ECPR in our extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) center (March 2007 to March 2019). Intensive care unit (ICU) and 1-year survival post-hospital discharge were assessed. Factors associated with ICU survival before ECPR were investigated. An external validation cohort from a previous multicenter study was used to validate our results.Results: Among the 137 patients (67.9% men; median [IQR] age, 54 [43-62] years; low-flow duration, 45 [30-70] min) requiring ECPR, 32.1% were weaned-off ECMO. Their respective ICU- and 1-year survival rates were 21.9% and 19%. Most 1-year survivors had favorable neurological outcomes (cerebral performance category score 1 or 2). ICU survivors compared to nonsurvivors, respectively, were more likely to have a shockable initial rhythm (53.3% versus 24.3%; P < 0.01), a shorter median (IQR) low-flow time (30 (25-53) versus 50 (35-80) min, P < 0.01) and they more frequently underwent a subsequent intervention (63.3% versus 26.2%, P < 0.01). The algorithm obtained by combining age, initial rhythm and low-flow duration discriminated between patient groups with very different survival probabilities in the derivation and validation cohorts.Conclusion: Survival of ECPR-managed in-hospital cardiac arrest patients in this cohort was poor but hospital survivors' 1-year neurological outcomes were favorable. When deciding whether or not to use ECPR, the combination of age, initial rhythm and low-flow duration can improve patient selection