Lung ultrasound predicts clinical course but not outcome in COVID-19 ICU patients: a retrospective single-center analysis

BACKGROUND Point-of-care lung ultrasound (LU) is an established tool in the first assessment of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of lung ultrasound in COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) patients in predicting clinical course and outcome. METHODS We analyzed lung ultrasound score (LUS) of all COVID-19 patients admitted from March 2020 to December 2020 to the Internal Intensive Care Unit, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) of Munich. LU was performed according to a standardized protocol at ICU admission and in case of clinical deterioration with the need for intubation. A normal lung scores 0 points, the worst LUS has 24 points. Patients were stratified in a low (0-12 points) and a high (13-24 points) lung ultrasound score group. RESULTS The study included 42 patients, 69% of them male. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (81%) and obesity (57%). The values of pH (7.42 ± 0.09 vs 7.35 ± 0.1; p = 0.047) and paO2 (107 80-130 vs 80 66-93 mmHg; p = 0.034) were significantly reduced in patients of the high LUS group. Furthermore, the duration of ventilation (12.5 8.3-25 vs 36.5 9.8-70 days; p = 0.029) was significantly prolonged in this group. Patchy subpleural thickening (n = 38; 90.5{\%}) and subpleural consolidations (n = 23; 54.8{\%}) were present in most patients. Pleural effusion was rare (n = 4; 9.5{\%}). The median total LUS was 11.9 ± 3.9 points. In case of clinical deterioration with the need for intubation, LUS worsened significantly compared to baseline LU. Twelve patients died during the ICU stay (29{\%}). There was no difference in survival in both LUS groups (75{\%} vs 66.7{\%}, p = 0.559). CONCLUSIONS LU can be a useful monitoring tool to predict clinical course but not outcome of COVID-19 ICU patients and can early recognize possible deteriorations

Charakteristika und Outcome von 70 beatmeten COVID-19-Patienten : Bilanz nach der ersten Welle an einem universitären Zentrum

BACKGROUND In a pandemic situation the overall mortality rate is of considerable interest; however, these data must always be seen in relation to the given healthcare system and the availability of local level of care. A recently published German data evaluation of more than 10,000 COVID-19 patients treated in 920 hospitals showed a high mortality rate of 22% in hospitalized patients and of more than 50% in patients requiring invasive ventilation. Because of the high infection rates in Bavaria, a large number of COVID-19 patients with considerable severity of disease were treated at the intensive care units of the LMU hospital. The LMU hospital is a university hospital and a specialized referral center for the treatment of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). OBJECTIVE Data of LMU intensive care unit (ICU) patients were systematically evaluated and compared with the recently published German data. METHODS Data of all COVID-19 patients with invasive and noninvasive ventilation and with completed admission at the ICU of the LMU hospital until 31 July 2020 were collected. Data were processed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS In total 70 critically ill patients were included in the data evaluation. The median SAPS II on admission to the ICU was 62~points. The median age was 66 years and 81% of the patients were male. More than 90% were diagnosed with ARDS and received invasive ventilation. Treatment with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was necessary in 10% of the patients. The median duration of ventilation was 16 days, whereby 34.3% of patients required a tracheostomy. Of the patients 27.1% were transferred to the LMU hospital from external hospitals with reference to our ARDS/ECMO program. Patients from external hospitals had ARDS of higher severity than the total study population. In total, nine different substances were used for virus-specific treatment of COVID-19. The most frequently used substances were hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. Immunomodulatory treatment, such as Cytosorb® (18.6%) and methylprednisolone (25.7%) were also frequently used. The overall in-hospital mortality rate of ICU patients requiring ventilation was 28.6%. The mortality rates of patients from external hospitals, patients with renal replacement therapy and patients with ECMO therapy were 47.4%, 56.7% and 85.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION The mortality rate in the ventilated COVID-19 intensive care patients was considerably different from the general rate in Germany. The data showed that treatment in an ARDS referral center could result in a lower mortality rate. Low-dose administration of steroids may be another factor to improve patient outcome in a preselected patient population. In the authors' opinion, critically ill COVID-19 patients should be treated in an ARDS center provided that sufficient resources are available.ZUSAMMENFASSUNG HINTERGRUND: Eine aktuelle, deutschlandweite Datenerhebung zeigte bei beatmeten Patienten mit COVID-19 eine Letalität von über 50 %. Auch am LMU Klinikum wurde eine große Anzahl an Patienten mit COVID-19 mit teils erheblicher Erkrankungsschwere intensivmedizinisch behandelt. FRAGESTELLUNG Die Daten der am LMU-Klinikum behandelten COVID-19-Patienten wurden systematisch ausgewertet und mit den deutschlandweiten Daten verglichen. METHODIK Für die vorliegende Studie wurden die Daten aller Patienten, die bis zum 31.07.2020 am LMU-Klinikum aufgrund von COVID-19 invasiv und nichtinvasiv beatmet wurden und deren Krankenhausaufenthalt zum Zeitpunkt der Auswertung bereits abgeschlossen war, analysiert und mittels deskriptiver Statistik aufgearbeitet. ERGEBNISSE Insgesamt wurden 70 kritisch kranke, beatmete Patienten (SAPS-II-Median: 62 Punkte) analysiert (Altersmedian: 66 Jahre, 81 % männlich). Über 90 % wurden wegen eines akuten Lungenversagens (ARDS) unterschiedlicher Schweregrade behandelt. Eine Therapie mittels extrakorporaler Membranoxygenierung (ECMO) war bei 10 % erforderlich. Die Übernahme von externen Kliniken im Rahmen einer ARDS/ECMO-Anfrage erfolgte bei 27,1 % der Patienten. Häufig eingesetzte immunmodulatorische Therapien waren die Behandlung mit Cytosorb® (18,6 %) und die prolongierte Gabe von Methylprednisolon (25,7 %). Die krankenhausinterne Letalität betrug 28,6 %. FAZIT Trotz erheblicher Erkrankungsschwere lag die Letalität bei beatmeten COVID-19-Intensivpatienten im LMU-Kollektiv deutlich unter der deutschlandweit erhobenen Letalität. Ein möglicher Faktor ist die Behandlung in einem Zentrum für ARDS

Accumulation of mutations in antibody and CD8 T cell epitopes in a B cell depleted lymphoma patient with chronic SARS-CoV-2 infection

Antibodies against the spike protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) can drive adaptive evolution in immunocompromised patients with chronic infection. Here we longitudinally analyze SARS-CoV-2 sequences in a B cell-depleted, lymphoma patient with chronic, ultimately fatal infection, and identify three mutations in the spike protein that dampen convalescent plasma-mediated neutralization of SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, four mutations emerge in non-spike regions encoding three CD8 T cell epitopes, including one nucleoprotein epitope affected by two mutations. Recognition of each mutant peptide by CD8 T cells from convalescent donors is reduced compared to its ancestral peptide, with additive effects resulting from double mutations. Querying public SARS-CoV-2 sequences shows that these mutations have independently emerged as homoplasies in circulating lineages. Our data thus suggest that potential impacts of CD8 T cells on SARS-CoV-2 mutations, at least in those with humoral immunodeficiency, warrant further investigation to inform on vaccine design

Outcome Prediction in Patients with Severe COVID-19 Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation—A Retrospective International Multicenter Study

The role of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy (V-V ECMO) in severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is still under debate and conclusive data from large cohorts are scarce. Furthermore, criteria for the selection of patients that benefit most from this highly invasive and resource-demanding therapy are yet to be defined. In this study, we assess survival in an international multicenter cohort of COVID-19 patients treated with V-V ECMO and evaluate the performance of several clinical scores to predict 30-day survival. Methods: This is an investigator-initiated retrospective non-interventional international multicenter registry study (NCT04405973, first registered 28 May 2020). In 127 patients treated with V-V ECMO at 15 centers in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, and the United States, we calculated the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) Score, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II), Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) Score, Respiratory Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Survival Prediction (RESP) Score, Predicting Death for Severe ARDS on V-V ECMO (PRESERVE) Score, and 30-day survival. Results: In our study cohort which enrolled 127 patients, overall 30-day survival was 54%. Median SOFA, SAPS II, APACHE II, RESP, and PRESERVE were 9, 36, 17, 1, and 4, respectively. The prognostic accuracy for all these scores (area under the receiver operating characteristic—AUROC) ranged between 0.548 and 0.605. Conclusions: The use of scores for the prediction of mortality cannot be recommended for treatment decisions in severe COVID-19 ARDS undergoing V-V ECMO; nevertheless, scoring results below or above a specific cut-off value may be considered as an additional tool in the evaluation of prognosis. Survival rates in this cohort of COVID-19 patients treated with V-V ECMO were slightly lower than those reported in non-COVID-19 ARDS patients treated with V-V ECMO

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Wirkung von Mediatoren auf die LOX-1- und eNOS-Expression beim akuten Koronarsyndrom

Der Rezeptor für oxidiertes LDL (LOX-1) und die endotheliale NO-Synthase spielen bei der Entstehung und dem Voranschreiten der Arteriosklerose eine wichtige Rolle. Viele Faktoren, welche die Expression von LOX-1 und eNOS beeinflussen, wurden identifiziert. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden die Effekte von Mediatoren im Blut auf die Expression von LOX-1 und eNOS beim akuten Koronarsyndrom untersucht. Hierfür wurden Patienten während einer Koronarangiographie Serumproben aus der Aorta sowie dem Koronarsinus entnommen. Es erfolgte die Inkubation der Serumproben mit humanen venösen Endothelzellen der Nabelschnurvene (HUVEC) für vier Stunden. Die LOX-1 Expression zeigte sich beim akuten Koronarsyndrom auf Proteinebene signifikant erhöht, auf mRNA-Ebene ließen sich keine Unterschiede in der Expression nachweisen. Hierfür können posttranslationale und –transkriptionale Effekte verantwortlich sein. Korrespondierend zu diesem Ergebnis zeigte sich mit steigender Konzentration von oxidiertem LDL die LOX-1 Proteinexpression beim akuten Koronarsyndrom erhöht. Im Trend nahm die LOX-1 mRNA-Expression bei steigender Konzentration an oxidiertem LDL unter Statintherapie ab. Auch für die eNOS zeigten sich ähnliche Ergebnisse. Auf Proteinebene kam es zu einer signifikant erhöhten eNOS-Expression bei Zellen, die mit Serum von Patienten mit akutem Koronarsyndrom behandelt wurden. Auf mRNA-Ebene zeigt sich auch hier kein Unterschied in der Expression verglichen zur Kontrollgruppe. Zugrunde liegen könnte ein negativer Rückkopplungsmechanismus. Durch einen beim akuten Koronarsyndrom entstehenden NO-Mangel könnte die Expression der eNOS erhöht werden. Für die Effekte auf die LOX-1 und eNOS-Expression sind Mediatoren im Blut verantwortlich. Außerdem konnte in dieser Arbeit gezeigt werden, dass die Konzentration von oxidiertem LDL mit der LOX-1 Proteinexpression bei HUVEC, die mit Seren von Patienten mit akutem Koronarsyndrom behandelt wurden, korreliert. Auf mRNA-Ebene ließ sich dieser Zusammenhang nicht nachweisen. Im Trend zeigte sich jedoch bei steigender Konzentration an oxidiertem LDL eine abnehmende mRNA-Expression von LOX-1 unter einer Statintherapie. In der Bestimmung kardiovaskulärer Risikofaktoren mittels Durchflusszytometrie zeigten sich beim akuten Koronarsyndrom signifikant erhöhte Konzentrationen an sP-Selektin und und tPA, sowohl in den arteriellen als auch in den venösen Serumproben. sP-Selektin gehört zur Gruppe der Adhäsionsmoleküle, die durch Entzündungsreaktionen, wie sie beim akuten Koronarsyndrom vorliegen, auf aktiviertem Endothel induziert werden. tPA ist ein wichtiger Teil der Blutgerinnung und dient als Indikator für die Störung der Fibrinolyse. Außerdem kommt es durch tPA zur Freisetzung von Mediatoren, die durch Aktivierung des inflammatorischen Systems zur Entwicklung der Arteriosklerose beitragen. Für sVCAM-1, Interleukin-8 und MCP-1 konnten in dieser Arbeit keine signifikant erhöhten Konzentrationen beim akuten Koronarsyndrom nachgewiesen werden, obwohl andere Arbeitsgruppen bereits positive Zusammenhänge nachweisen konnten. Es bleibt weiteren Studien vorbehalten, die Rolle dieser Mediatoren auf die LOX-1 Expression mit spezifischen Hemmstoffen zu untersuchen. Mit steigender LOX-1 mRNA- und Proteinexpression nimmt die tPA-Konzentration ab. Ursächlich scheint eine bei erhöhter LOX-1-Expression vorliegende gestörte Gerinnung mit Ausbildung prothrombotischer Effekte zu sein.LOX-1, a receptor for oxidized LDL, and the endothelial NO-synthase, eNOS, are important factors in the development and progress of atherosclerosis. The present study analysed the effects of mediators on the expression of LOX-1 and eNOS in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Blood samples were taken from the aorta and the coronary sinus in a coronary angiography. HUVECs were exposed to the serum for four hours. While LOX-1 protein expression was significantly increased in patients with ACS, there was no difference in LOX-1 mRNA expression between ACS-patients and controls. This may be due to posttranslational and posttranscriptional effects. As expected LOX-1 protein expression shows a positive correlation with higher oxidized LDL concentrations in ACS. eNOS protein expression was significantly higher in the ACS-patient-group. mRNA expression was not different between both groups. This might be explained by a negative feedback mechanism. The effects on LOX-1 and eNOS expression are caused by mediators in patients’ blood