ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: The risk factors for clinically significant diffuse parenchymal lung abnormalities (CS-DPLA) persisting after severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia remain unclear. The present study was conducted to assess whether COVID-19 severity and other parameters are associated with CS-DPLA. Methods: The study participants included patients who recovered after acute severe COVID-19 and presented with CS-DPLA at two or six month follow up and control group (without CS-DPLA). Adults volunteers without any acute illness, chronic respiratory illness and without a history of severe COVID-19 were included as healthy controls for the biomarker study. The CS-DPLA was identified as a multidimensional entity involving clinical, radiological and physiological pulmonary abnormalities. The primary exposure was the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Recorded confounders included age, sex, peak lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), advanced respiratory support (ARS), length of hospital stay (LOS) and others; associations were analyzed using logistic regression. The baseline serum levels of surfactant protein D, cancer antigen 15-3 and transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?) were also compared among cases, controls and healthy volunteers. Results: We identified 91/160 (56.9%) and 42/144 (29.2%) participants with CS-DPLA at two and six months, respectively. Univariate analyses revealed associations of NLR, peak LDH, ARS and LOS with CS-DPLA at two months and of NLR and LOS at six months. The NLR was not independently associated with CS-DPLA at either visit. Only LOS independently predicted CS-DPLA at two months [adjusted odds ratios (aOR) (95% confidence interval [CI]), 1.16 (1.07-1.25); P<0.001] and six months [aOR (95% CI) and 1.07 (1.01-1.12); P=0.01]. Participants with CS-DPLA at six months had higher baseline serum TGF-? levels than healthy volunteers. Interpretation and conclusions: Longer hospital stay was observed to be the only independent predictor of CS-DPLA six months after severe COVID-19. Serum TGF-? should be evaluated further as a biomarker.
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives: Celiac disease (CD) is a genetic immune mediated disorder characterised by gluten intolerance. This single centre study, from north India was aimed to assess the clinical, serological and histological profile of CD in a large cohort of children and the changing trends in its presentation. Methods: A review of clinical details of CD children diagnosed between 2000 and 2019 and currently on follow up was performed. Information on demography, symptoms, associated conditions, serology, biopsy findings and gluten-free diet were analyzed. Results: The mean age (±standard deviation) of 891 children included in the study, at onset and at diagnosis was 4.0±2.7 and 6.2±3.1 yr, respectively. Growth faltering, abdominal pain, abdominal distension and diarrhoea were presenting symptoms in 70, 64.2, 61.2 and 58.2 per cent, respectively. A positive family history of CD was present in 14 per cent and autoimmune conditions in 12.3 per cent of children. Thyroid disorders were seen in 8.5 per cent of children and Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in 5.7 per cent. The duration of breastfeeding had a weak positive correlation with age at onset and diagnosis of CD (P<0.001). Non-classical CD was significantly more common in children aged >10 yr and in those presenting after 2010 (P<0.01). T1DM and hypothyroidism occurred more frequently in non-compliant children. Interpretation & conclusions: This was the largest single centre study, pertaining to the presentation and follow up of CD in children. Infants and young children were more likely to present with classical symptoms of diarrhoea, abdominal distension and growth failure while older children presented with non-classical CD. There was a trend towards non-classical forms of CD in recent years.