Recommendations for caring for patients with severe and nonsevere COVID-19.

SOURCE CITATION: Ye Z, Rochwerg B, Wang Y, et al. Treatment of patients with nonsevere and severe coronavirus disease 2019: an evidence-based guideline. CMAJ. 2020;192:E536-45. 32350002.

In non-critically ill patients with COVID-19, therapeutic anticoagulation improved survival to discharge without organ support.

SOURCE CITATION: Lawler PR, Goligher EC, Berger JS, et al. Therapeutic anticoagulation with heparin in noncritically ill patients with Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2021;385:790-802. 34351721.

In critically ill patients with COVID-19, therapeutic anticoagulation did not increase organ support-free days.

SOURCE CITATION: Goligher EC, Bradbury CA, McVerry BJ, et al. Therapeutic anticoagulation with heparin in critically ill patients with Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2021;385:777-89. 34351722.

Mortality due to COVID-19 infection: A comparison of first and second waves.

BACKGROUND: The USA suffered an initial wave of COVID-19 cases from March to July in 2020. Cases again surged in August 2020 as business restrictions were lifted. We aimed to describe demographic, treatment, and mortality differences between both waves. METHODS: We identified all hospitalized patients with COVID-19 infection in one US six-hospital health system between 1 March 2020 and 31 January 2021. We compared data obtained on patient demographics, treatment received, and mortality between first and second waves of the pandemic. RESULTS: A total of 4434 hospitalized COVID patients were identified, including 1313 patients in the first wave and 3121 patients in the second wave. Mortality was significantly higher in the first wave as compared to the second wave (23.2% vs. 12.3%, p < 0.001). Age and sex were similar in each wave. In the first wave, there were significantly more Non-Hispanic Black patients (28.8 vs. 18.1%, p < 0.001) and Hispanic patients (26.6% vs. 14.9%, p < 0.001) as compared to the second wave. There was a higher mortality rate in the first wave as compared to the second, which persisted after multivariable adjustment for sex, age, ethnicity, laboratory results at admission, treatment received, high flow use and mechanical ventilation (OR: 2.66, 95% CI: 1.83-3.87, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Mortality in the second wave was lower than the first wave with significantly higher utilization of steroids, remdesivir and convalescent plasma in second wave.

A Rare Case of COVID-19 Related Necrotizing Myopathy

Research Objectives To report a case of COVID-19 associated necrotizing myopathy. Design Case report. Setting Following the patient through acute hospitalization, acute rehab to outpatient therapy follow up. Participants A 76-year-old man with known hypogammaglobulinemia on monthly IVIG infusions who presented to the hospital with 1 week of dyspnea and myalgias. He was a former athlete who participated in daily cardiovascular workouts before admission. He was found to have COVID-19 pneumonia. Interventions Patient was treated with remdesivir and oral dexamethasone. He was transferred to the ICU for 9 days where he received convalescent plasma, intravenous methylprednisolone, and high flow oxygen. He did not require intubation nor sedatives. Main Outcome Measures Following transfer to the floor, he reported new-onset muscle weakness. Physical examination revealed symmetrical proximal upper and lower extremity weakness with elevated CK at 3665 IU/L. His atorvastatin was held, and steroids were tapered. However, his creatinine kinase continued to rise, peaking at 8335 IU/L. High dose methylprednisolone was resumed with improvement in creatinine kinase. Extensive myositis panel and Anti HMGCR antibody were normal. Thyroid studies revealed transient thyroiditis thought to be induced by COVID-19 infection that did not require treatment. Results Right thigh MRI revealed edema of the lateral thigh muscles. Biopsy of the quadriceps showed necrotizing myopathy. Electromyography and NCS revealed inflammatory/immune myositis. Findings were not typical for a steroid, endocrine, or disuse myopathy. He was discharged to an IRF at a dependent level with bilateral hip flexor strength 2/5, triceps 3+/5, and the remainder of his extremity muscles 5/5. By day 40, he was independent with a rolling walker with significant gains in strength. Conclusions Timely recognition of COVID-19 related myopathy may prevent serious necrotizing muscle injury. Author(s) Disclosures None.

Central Venous Sinus Thrombosis with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Following an mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination: Are These Reports Merely Co-Incidental?

BACKGROUND Multiple vaccines have been developed against COVID-19 as a collaborative worldwide effort. On March 18, 2021 the European Medicines Agency reported a serious and rare adverse effect of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after receiving the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine; most of these cases were associated with cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). To date, there are no cases of TTS-related CVST reported after receipt of either of the 2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines authorized for use in the United States. We report a case of CVST with the Moderna mRNA vaccine. CASE REPORT A healthy 45-year-old male patient without any risk factors presented with new-onset seizures 8 days after the receipt of the 2nd dose of Moderna (mRNA-1273), with concomitant SAH as a complication. One day prior to admission, he noted headaches and neck pain unrelieved by over-the-counter analgesics. Computed tomography (CT) scan brain without contrast revealed a left frontal lobe intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) along with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). A subsequent contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain confirmed the CT findings as well as anterior superior sagittal sinus thrombosis. He had normal platelet count with a negative thrombophilia work-up and cancer screening. He was successfully anticoagulated with heparin and discharged on warfarin without neurological sequelae or further seizures. The case was reported to the US Vaccine Surveillance System. CONCLUSIONS mRNA vaccine-related CVST is an extremely rare phenomenon. More data are needed to establish causality and understand the role of vaccine-related immune response resulting in thrombotic events with or without TTS.

Necrotising myopathy and concurrent thyroiditis in a patient with COVID-19 infection.

A 76-year-old man with hypogammaglobulinemia on monthly intravenous immunoglobulin infusions presented to the hospital with fever, cough, and shortness of breath and was diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring intensive care unit admission but not intubation. He was treated with convalescent plasma, remdesivir and corticosteroids. Sixteen days into his hospitalisation he began to report weakness without sensory symptoms and was found on biopsy to have a necrotising myopathy.

Remdesivir improved time to recovery in adults hospitalized with COVID-19 and lower respiratory tract involvement.

SOURCE CITATION: Beigel JH, Tomashek KM, Dodd LE, et al. Remdesivir for the treatment of Covid-19-preliminary report. N Engl J Med. 2020. [Epub ahead of print]. 32445440.

Venous Thromboembolism in COVID-19: Towards an Ideal Approach to Thromboprophylaxis, Screening, and Treatment.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with an increased risk of arterial and venous thromboembolic (VTE) diseases. However, there is a limited amount of data regarding the prevention and management of VTE in severe hospitalized COVID-19 patients. RECENT FINDINGS: In this article, we review currently available clinical data, and mechanisms for COVID-associated coagulopathy, and propose algorithms for screening, prevention (including extended-duration prophylaxis), and treatment of these patients. Although these recommendations are subject to change given rapidly evolving data, we provide a framework that can guide clinicians in managing thrombotic complications in this challenging condition.