DMTs and Covid-19 severity in MS: a pooled analysis from Italy and France

We evaluated the effect of DMTs on Covid-19 severity in patients with MS, with a pooled-analysis of two large cohorts from Italy and France. The association of baseline characteristics and DMTs with Covid-19 severity was assessed by multivariate ordinal-logistic models and pooled by a fixed-effect meta-analysis. 1066 patients with MS from Italy and 721 from France were included. In the multivariate model, anti-CD20 therapies were significantly associated (OR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.39–3.02, p < 0.001) with Covid-19 severity, whereas interferon indicated a decreased risk (OR = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.18–0.99, p = 0.047). This pooled-analysis confirms an increased risk of severe Covid-19 in patients on anti-CD20 therapies and supports the protective role of interferon

Maladie des griffes de chat.

A case of cat-scratch syndrome is described. The dermatological features and skin reactions reported in this illness (erythema nodosum, erythema multiforma) as well as the diagnostical criteria are reviewed. The hypothetical nature of the etiologic agent of this syndrome is discussed.Case ReportsEnglish AbstractJournal ArticleSCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Acyclovir vs isoprinosine (immunovir) for suppression of recurrent genital herpes simplex infection.

OBJECTIVE--To compare the efficacy and safety of oral acyclovir (400 mg twice daily) with oral isoprinosine (500 mg twice daily) in the suppression of recurrent genital herpes. DESIGN--Double-blind, double-dummy, randomised, controlled, parallel group trial. SETTING--13 centres in UK, Belgium and Germany. SUBJECTS--127 immunocompetent patients with frequently recurring genital herpes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Proportions of patients reporting recurrences, recurrence frequency, and mean duration of lesions during breakthrough recurrences in each treatment group during a 6 month treatment period; time to first recurrence during treatment and follow-up after treatment cessation. RESULTS--During treatment, acyclovir recipients showed significant differences (p < 0.05) when compared with isoprinosine recipients in terms of a lower proportion reporting recurrences (31% vs 96%), a reduced mean number of reported recurrences per patient (0.6 vs 3.6), a shorter mean duration of breakthrough lesions (6.4 days vs 8.2 days), and a longer mean time (standard error) to first recurrence (143.7 (9.1) days vs 40.5 (5.4) days. The mean time to first recurrence after treatment cessation did not differ between the two groups. As compared with placebo recipients, isoprinosine treated patients had an increased recurrence frequency (3.6 vs 2.5) during treatment, and a shorter time to first recurrence after treatment cessation. All treatments were well tolerated without serious adverse events or toxicity. CONCLUSIONS--Acyclovir is very effective in suppressing recurrent genital herpes and is clearly superior to isoprinosine which is not clinically useful in the dosage studied

Value of standard laboratory tests for the early recognition of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal necrotizing fasciitis.

The laboratory data for 17 patients with group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal necrotizing fasciitis (GAS NF) were compared with data for 145 patients hospitalized for cellulitis during the same period. Admission values of C-reactive protein and creatine kinase were higher for patients in the group with GAS NF than for patients in the group with cellulitis (P<.001), suggesting that standard laboratory tests may be useful for the early differential diagnosis of GAS NF and cellulitis.Journal ArticleMulticenter Studyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe