CLINICAL AND AUTOIMMUNE CHARACTERISTICS OF COVID-19 PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Introduction: Since the end of 2019, the world is witnessing the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This disease presented with a wide array of clinical, inflammatory and possible autoimmune manifestations. Currently, a very few data is available about the involvement of autoimmunity in patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Aim: To find out the clinical and inflammatory status of COVID-19 patients and whether this disease (SARS-CoV-2) stimulates autoantibody production and contributes to autoimmunity activation. Methodology: A hospital based retrospective study conducted on 60 COVID-19 patients. All patients were clinically and radiologically evaluated and screened for common inflammatory markers and auto antibodies. Result: Patients included were 39 men (65%) and 21 women (35%). 33 patients were mild cases, 15 were moderate and 12 were severe cases with a mean age of 44.27. Fever and shortness of breath were the dominant symptoms; most patients had at least one coexisting disorder on admission; the most common characteristic on chest CT was groundglass opacity; the most common findings on laboratory measurements of inflammatory markers were elevated levels of CRP, LDH ,ferritin and altered neutrophil lymphocyte ratio; and prevalence of autoantibodies ,anti SSA/Ro antibody, anti SSB/La antibody, and antinuclear antibody was 20%, 10%, and 15%, respectively and Anti-TPO antibody was positive in 33.3% patients. Conclusion: We conclude that autoimmune phenomena exist in COVID-19 subjects.

Multiplex PCR technique could be an alternative approach for early detection of leprosy among close contacts - a pilot study from India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Implementation of Multi drug Therapy (MDT) regimen has resulted in the decline of the total number of leprosy cases in the world. Though the prevalence rate has been declining, the incidence rate remains more or less constant and high in South East Asian countries particularly in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Srilanka. Leprosy, particularly that of multibacillary type spreads silently before it is clinically detected. An early detection and treatment would help to prevent transmission in the community. Multiplex PCR (M-PCR) technique appears to be promising towards early detection among contacts of leprosy cases.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 234 paucibacillary (PB) and 205 multibacillary (MB) leprosy cases were studied in a community of an endemic area of Bankura district of West Bengal (Eastern India). They were assessed by smear examination for acid-fast bacilli (AFB) and M-PCR technique. These patients were treated with Multidrug Therapy (MDT) as prescribed by WHO following detection. A total of 110 MB and 72 PB contacts were studied by performing M-PCR in their nasal swab samples.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>83.4% of MB patients were observed to be positive by smear examination for AFB and 89.2% by M-PCR. While 22.2% of PB patients were found to be positive by smear examination for AFB, 80.3% of these patients were positive by M-PCR. Among leprosy contacts (using M-PCR), 10.9% were found to be positive among MB contacts and 1.3% among PB contacts. Interestingly, two contacts of M-PCR positive MB cases developed leprosy during the period of two years follow up.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The M-PCR technique appears to be an efficient tool for early detection of leprosy cases in community based contact tracing amongst close associates of PB and MB cases. Early contact tracing using a molecular biology tool can be of great help in curbing the incidence of leprosy further.</p