SARS-CoV-2 viral load in nasopharyngeal swabs is not an independent predictor of unfavorable outcome

The aim was to assess the ability of nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load at first patient’s hospital evaluation to predict unfavorable outcomes. We conducted a prospective cohort study including 321 adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 through RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs. Quantitative Synthetic SARS-CoV-2 RNA cycle threshold values were used to calculate the viral load in log10 copies/mL. Disease severity at the end of follow up was categorized into mild, moderate, and severe. Primary endpoint was a composite of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and/or death (n = 85, 26.4%). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load over the second quartile (≥ 7.35 log10 copies/mL, p = 0.003) and second tertile (≥ 8.27 log10 copies/mL, p = 0.01) were associated to unfavorable outcome in the unadjusted logistic regression analysis. However, in the final multivariable analysis, viral load was not independently associated with an unfavorable outcome. Five predictors were independently associated with increased odds of ICU admission and/or death: age ≥ 70 years, SpO2, neutrophils > 7.5 × 103/µL, lactate dehydrogenase ≥ 300 U/L, and C-reactive protein ≥ 100 mg/L. In summary, nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load on admission is generally high in patients with COVID-19, regardless of illness severity, but it cannot be used as an independent predictor of unfavorable clinical outcome

Dendritic cell deficiencies persist seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 infection induces an exacerbated inflammation driven by innate immunity components. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in the defense against viral infections, for instance plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), have the capacity to produce vast amounts of interferon-alpha (IFN-α). In COVID-19 there is a deficit in DC numbers and IFN-α production, which has been associated with disease severity. In this work, we described that in addition to the DC deficiency, several DC activation and homing markers were altered in acute COVID-19 patients, which were associated with multiple inflammatory markers. Remarkably, previously hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients remained with decreased numbers of CD1c+ myeloid DCs and pDCs seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, the expression of DC markers such as CD86 and CD4 were only restored in previously nonhospitalized patients, while no restoration of integrin β7 and indoleamine 2,3-dyoxigenase (IDO) levels were observed. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the immunological sequelae of COVID-19

A prospective study on the correlation between thromboelastometry and standard laboratory tests – influence of type of surgery and perioperative sampling times

This prospective study aimed at investigating the influence of surgery type and perioperative sampling times on the correlations between rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) parameters and standard laboratory coagulation tests assessing comparable coagulation phases. Patients undergoing glioblastoma multiforme resection (GBR group, n = 60) or laparoscopic colon cancer resection (CCR group, n = 40) were prospectively included. Blood samples for ROTEM and laboratory assessments were consecutively drawn within 24-hours prior to surgery (baseline), and at 2, 24 and 48-hours after surgery. Correlations between perioperative ExTEM clotting-time (CT-exTEM) and prothrombin time (PT), and between FibTEM maximum clot firmness (MCF-fibTEM) with and plasma fibrinogen (pFB) concentration (Clauss method), were evaluated using the Spearman’s rho test. The efficiency of recommended cut-offs of CT-exTEM (>75 s) and MCF-fibTEM (15 s) or a low pFB (<2 g/L), respectively, was assessed using Receiver-Operator Characteristic curves. Correlations between CT-exTEM and PT were weak in GBR (rho = 0.25 [0.12–0.38], p < .01), and very weak in CCR (rho = 0.06 [−0.12–0.27]). Those between MCF-fibTEM and pFB, were strong in both GBR (rho = 0.69 [0.61–0.76], p < .01) and CCR (rho = 0.70 [0.60–0.78], p < .01). These correlations remained largely unchanged over the studied perioperative period in both groups. Recommended CT-exTEM and MCF-fibTEM cut-offs had poor sensitivity for predicting a prolonged PT (17% [8–31]) or a low pFB (46% [32–62]), without group-related differences. Neither the type of surgery nor the perioperative sampling times had a significant influence on the correlations between ROTEM parameters and standard laboratory tests. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT0265289

Relationship of thromboelastography and conventional clotting test values with severe bleeding in critically ill patients with coagulopathy: A prospective study

[Introduction] This study aimed to ascertain the associations of thromboelastography (TEG®) and standard laboratory test (SLTs) values with the presence of bleeding in critically ill patients with known coagulopathy.[Methods] Three groups of coagulopathic patients with (a) hepatic failure, (b) postoperative period after prolonged cardiac surgery, and (c) complex abdominal surgery with sepsis were prospectively included in this study. On intensive care unit (ICU) admission, patients were stratified into two groups according to whether they had major bleeding (MB) (evident overt bleeding, important bleeding apparent on imaging studies, and/or need for moderate‐massive blood transfusion and hemodynamic instability). Blood samples were drawn for the SLTs (international normalized ratio [INR], activated partial thromboplastin time [aPTT], platelet count, and fibrinogen level [Clauss]) and TEG whole blood coagulation assays. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to determine the efficiency of TEG and SLTs for detecting bleeding. The correlations between SLTs and TEG parameters with similar coagulation profiles were evaluated by Spearman rank‐order analysis.[Results] Eighty‐three patients were included, and bleeding was confirmed in 45 (54%). The fibrinogen level demonstrated the best accuracy for detecting bleeding with an area under the curve and 95% confidence intervals [AUC (95% CI)] of 0.74 (0.63‐0.85) with the best cutoff value of ≤ 2 g/L. Regarding TEG‐MA, the AUC (CI) obtained with the optimal cutoff value of ≤ 51 mm was 0.68 (0.56‐0.80).[Conclusions] Both conventional clotting tests and TEG values were poorly associated with bleeding in this critically ill cohort of patients with coagulopathy.This study was partially supported by funds FEDER Government of Spain, Spain. Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI 15/512 and Consejería de Salud Junta de Andalucía PI‐0468‐2017