ABSTRACT
We aim to observe the inflammatory status in patients with hepatitis C associated cryoglobulinemia after COVID-19 infection. We evaluated 3 patients with hepatitis C associated cryoglobulinemia, 6 patients with hepatitis C and 16 patients without comorbidities with COVID-19 infection. In lammatory markers were signi icantly increased in 2 patients with cryoglobulinemia, as opposed to patients without the associated condition, with or without hepatitis C. In the third patient the levels of C reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were similar to HCV positive patients.
ABSTRACT
Background: The new Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) represents a global threat due to its increased mortality, especially among the elderly and people with severe comorbidities, such as cancer. Objectives: Through the specific measures that have been imposed to reduce the risk of infection and death, the working hypothesis is prepared: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has drastically decreased the hospital admissions of cancer patients, the frequency of hospitalizations and determined an increased mortality rate through the infection with SARS- CoV-2 virus in cancer patients. Methods: For a period of 16 weeks, the hospitalizations of patients to the Chronic Oncology-Palliative Care Department of "St. Luke" Hospital for Chronic Diseases, Bucharest, were analyzed, being compared to the same period of the previous year and, also, there were patients with symptoms specific to COVID-19 infection, tested for SARS-CoV-2 by means of RT-PCR. Results: The data analysis shows a 53.7% decrease among hospitalized patients - with 51.4 for day hospitalization and 50.2% for inpatient hospitalization, during the COVID-19 pandemic. 4 patients out of the 477 admitted to the Oncology Department in this period had a positive RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 test during their hospitalization and 5 patients with symptoms common for both cancer and COVID-19 had a negative result through specific testing (Table I, Table II). Two other patients recorded on the unit were infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus and required admission and treatment in the COVID-19 Department. The willingness of the cancer patient to consult a physician for admission has greatly decreased in the first 16 weeks from the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Cancer patients, although at an increased risk of being infected, did not exhibit severe symptoms, and the evolution of the symptoms and the performance state after the discharge from the COVID-19 department was influenced by the age and the associated comorbidities.
ABSTRACT
Since the end of the year 2019, mankind has been confronting with the COVID-19 pandemic. Complex measures have been taken to solve this problem and the aim of this study is to summarise the results of research on the most used antiviral treatments for COVID-19 diagnosed in pregnant women. The specialty literature review was conducted by searching the PubMed (National Library of Medicine, Washington, DC) and Embase (Elsevier) databases. In the initial search in databases we used a combination of the following keywords: “COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “pregnancy” and “therapy”. Clinical trials were identified using the search term ”COVID-19” and the generic names of the drugs on ClinicalTrials.gov and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP) of WHO. Corresponding to the objectives of our research, we found articles and studies about antiviral drugs which act as: protease inhibitors (lopinavir/ritonavir, darunavir/cobicistat), RNA polymerase inhibitors (remdesivir, favipiravir, ribavirin), umifenovir, antimalarial drugs (chloroquine, hydroxyclhoroquine) and others. Summarising what is currently known about the antiviral treatment of COVID-19 during pregnancy, we can conclude that, at this time, no antiviral drug is undoubtedly effective in the fight against SARS-CoV-2;the experience gained so far, leads to the idea that treatment schemes must combine several methods and drugs to be successful;a national or even international register should be set up to report situations where a medicine has been administered to a pregnant woman to monitor for side effects;pregnant women should also be included in studies, under rigorous conditions and after a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of medicines. © 2020, Romanian Society for Pharmaceutical Sciences. All rights reserved.