Allergic BronchoPulmonary Aspergillosis in Nepal

Allergic BronchoPulmonary Aspergillosis is clinically under recognized and often misdiagnosed in Nepal. A total of 15 cases of ABPA were enrolled in this case series. Cases were followed up after the 3 months of start of treatment and clinical responses were assessed. The mean age of the patients was 33.06 ± 9.2 yrs. 80% were male. 26.6% patients were empirically on antitubercular treatment at the time of presentation. 40% patients were misdiagnosed and already treated as pulmonary Tuberculosis. 10 patients were previously treated as cases of refractory asthma. Majority of patients had significant eosinophillia and raised total serum IgE. All patients required treatment with bronchodilator and systemic steroid. 80% patients underwent remission with the treatment. Pulmonary Tuberculosis and refractory bronchial asthma are common condition that leads to the misdiagnosis of this disease. 
 Keywords: ABPA; bronchial asthma; central bronchiectasis; eosinophil count; serum IgE

Allergic BronchoPulmonary Aspergillosis in Nepal

Allergic BronchoPulmonary Aspergillosis is clinically under recognized and often misdiagnosed in Nepal. A total of 15 cases of ABPA were enrolled in this case series. Cases were followed up after the 3 months of start of treatment and clinical responses were assessed. The mean age of the patients was 33.06 ± 9.2 yrs. 80% were male. 26.6% patients were empirically on antitubercular treatment at the time of presentation. 40% patients were misdiagnosed and already treated as pulmonary Tuberculosis. 10 patients were previously treated as cases of refractory asthma. Majority of patients had significant eosinophillia and raised total serum IgE. All patients required treatment with bronchodilator and systemic steroid. 80% patients underwent remission with the treatment. Pulmonary Tuberculosis and refractory bronchial asthma are common condition that leads to the misdiagnosis of this disease.  Keywords: ABPA; bronchial asthma; central bronchiectasis; eosinophil count; serum IgE

Diffuse Alveolar Haemorrhage as Initial Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage results from accumulation of red blood cells in the alveolar space originating from alveolar capillaries. Alveolar hemorrhage in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is rare but catastrophic and can rapidly progress to respiratory failure. We report a 22-year old lady who presented with dyspnoea on exertion, hemoptysis, bilateral leg swelling and oliguria. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage was confirmed by bronchoalveolar lavage fluid analysis. Serologic tests and renal biopsy confirmed lupus nephritis. She was treated with systemic immunosuppressive therapy and plasma exchange, to which she had a favourable response. Lupus presenting as alveolar hemorrhage is rare which warrants prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications

Development of a mortality prediction formula due to sepsis/severe sepsis in a medical intensive care unit

Background: Although sepsis is one of the leading causes of mortality in hospitalized patients, information regarding early predictive factors for mortality and morbidity is limited. Materials and Methods: Patients fulfilling the Infectious Disease Society of America criteria of sepsis within the medical intensive care unit (ICU) were included over two years. Apart from baseline hematological, biochemical, and metabolic parameters, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), Simplified Acute Physiology Score II and III (SAPS II and SAPS III), and Sequential Organ Function Assessment (SOFA) scores were calculated on day 1 of admission. Patients were followed till death or discharge from the ICU. Results: One hundred patients were enrolled over two years (54% males). The overall mortality was 53%, (69.5% in females, 38.8% in males (P < 0.01). Mortality was 65.7%, 55.7%, and 33.3% in patients with septic shock, severe sepsis, and sepsis, respectively. Patients who died were significantly older than the survivors (mean age, 57.37 ± 20.42 years and 44.29 ± 15.53 years respectively, P < 0.01). Nonsurvivors were significantly more anemic and had higher APACHE II, SAPS II, SAPS III, and SOFA scores. The presence of acute respiratory distress syndrome and renal dysfunction were associated with higher mortality (75% and 70.2%, respectively). There was no significant difference in the duration of mechanical ventilation or ICU stay between survivors and nonsurvivors. On multivariate analysis, significant predictors of mortality with odds ratio greater than 2 included the presence of anemia, SAPS II score greater than 35, SAPS III score greater than 47, and SOFA score greater than 6 at day 1 of admission. Conclusion: Several demographic and laboratory parameters as well as composite critical illness scoring systems are reliable early predictors of mortality in sepsis. A sepsis mortality prediction formula (AIIMS Sepsis Score) based on SAPS II, SAPS III, and SOFA scores and hemoglobin has greater predictive power than these scoring methods individually. Routine use of critical illness scoring systems and a composite mortality prediction formula may provide useful early prognostic information in sepsis/severe sepsis

Anticoagulation Strategies in Non–Critically Ill Patients with Covid-19

BackgroundOptimal thromboprophylaxis for hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is uncertain.MethodsIn an open-label, adaptive platform trial, we randomly assigned hospitalized adults with Covid-19 to low-dose low-molecular-weight heparin thromboprophylaxis or intermediate-dose or low-dose plus aspirin. In response to external evidence, the aspirin intervention was discontinued and a therapeutic-dose arm added. The primary end point was death or the requirement for new organ support by day 28, analyzed with a Bayesian logistic model. Enrolment was closed as a result of operational constraints.ResultsBetween February 2021 and March 2022, 1574 patients were randomly assigned. Among 1526 participants included in the analysis (India, n=1273; Australia and New Zealand, n=138; and Nepal, n=115), the primary outcome occurred in 35 (5.9%) of 596 in low-dose, 25 (4.2%) of 601 in intermediate-dose, 20 (7.2%) of 279 in low-dose plus aspirin, and 7 (14%) of 50 in therapeutic-dose anticoagulation. Compared with low-dose thromboprophylaxis, the median adjusted odds ratio for the primary outcome for intermediate-dose was 0.74 (95% credible interval [CrI], 0.43 to 1.27; posterior probability of effectiveness [adjusted odds ratioConclusionsIn hospitalized non–critically ill adults with Covid-19, compared with low-dose, there was an 86% posterior probability that intermediate-dose, 65% posterior probability that low-dose plus aspirin, and a 7% posterior probability that therapeutic-dose anticoagulation reduced the odds of death or requirement for organ support. No treatment strategy met prespecified stopping criteria before trial closure, precluding definitive conclusions. (Funded by Australian National Health and Medical Research Council or Medical Research Future Fund Investigator and Practitioner Grants and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04483960.