C-Reactive Protein (CRP): A poor prognostic biomarker in COVID-19.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be rampant with considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide since its emergence in December 2019. Several studies have focused on identifying different predictive factors of poor prognosis, including biological markers, such as C Reactive Protein among others. The objective of our work was to determine whether the CRP levels on admission to the intensive care unit are predictive of an unfavorable evolution of patients with COVID-19 through the experience of the Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital of Oujda and to compare our results with those reported in the literature. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, monocentric, descriptive and analytical study in the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care of the Mohammed VI University Hospital of Oujda, Morocco, between March 2020 and October 2021, including all critically ill patients admitted to the department during this period and meeting the inclusion criteria. The baseline admission CRP value was arbitrarily set at 100mg/d, thus conditioning the division of our patients into two groups (group 1: CRP < 100mg/L, group 2: CRP ≥ 100mg/L). Results: Among our 1035 included patients, 291 patients with had a CRP<100mlg/L (group 1) and 744 presented a CRP level equal or superior to 100mg/L (group 2). Lung parenchymal involvement was more severe or even critical (CT involvement > 75%) in group 2 (60.8%) compared to group 1 (39.2%). In group 2, 79.8% of patients were mechanically ventilated, compared to 20.2% of patients in group 1. Finally, the mortality rate in patients with a CRP ≥ 100mg/l was 77.4%, compared with 22.6% for patients with a CRP < 100mg/l. These findings are all statistically highly significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: Given the high contagiousness of the virus and the emergence of several variants, the management of the COVID-19 pandemic has focused more on prevention through vaccination against the virus, but also on an early identification of patients likely to evolve unfavorably for a personalized management.

The Impact of Prior Antithrombotic use on Thromboembolic Events in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease and Severe COVID-19 Infection.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective in this study was to determine the predictive factors of thromboembolic complications in patients with previous heart disease and severe covid-19 infection and the impact of previous use of antithrombotics on protection against these complications. METHODS: We conducted a single-center retrospective study of 158 patients with heart disease admitted to an intensive care unit for severe SARS-COV-2 infection. In order to determine the predictive factors, we used logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Out of 158 patients, 22 were complicated by a thrombo-embolic event (13.9%), mean age of our population 64.03 (SD = 15.27), with a male predominance of 98 (62%). For the predictive factors of thromboembolic complications, and after multivariate analysis, we find the short duration of hospitalization (OR = 0.92; 95%CI (0.863-0.983), P = .014, previous use of antithrombotic drugs ((OR = 0.288, 95%CI (0.091-0.911), P = .034 for antiplatelet agents) and (OR = 0.322, 95% CI (0, 131-0.851), P = .021) for anticoagulants) as protective factors, and admission thrombocytosis as a risk factor (OR = 4.58, 95%CI (1.2-10.627), P = .021). D-dimer was not detected as a risk factor, and this can be explained by the characteristics of our population. Although prior use of antithrombotic drugs protects against thromboembolic complications during severe infection, there was no benefit in mortality. CONCLUSION: Prior use of antithrombotic drugs is a protective factor against thromboembolic complications in patients with a history of heart disease but without effect on mortality.

C-Reactive Protein (CRP): A poor prognostic biomarker in COVID-19

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be rampant with considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide since its emergence in December 2019. Several studies have focused on identifying different predictive factors of poor prognosis, including biological markers, such as C Reactive Protein among others. The objective of our work was to determine whether the CRP levels on admission to the intensive care unit are predictive of an unfavorable evolution of patients with COVID-19 through the experience of the Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital of Oujda and to compare our results with those reported in the literature. Methods We conducted a retrospective, monocentric, descriptive and analytical study in the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care of the Mohammed VI University Hospital of Oujda, Morocco, between March 2020 and October 2021, including all critically ill patients admitted to the department during this period and meeting the inclusion criteria. The baseline admission CRP value was arbitrarily set at 100mg/d, thus conditioning the division of our patients into two groups (group 1: CRP < 100mg/L, group 2: CRP ≥ 100mg/L). Results Among our 1035 included patients, 291 patients with had a CRP<100mlg/L (group 1) and 744 presented a CRP level equal or superior to 100mg/L (group 2). Lung parenchymal involvement was more severe or even critical (CT involvement > 75%) in group 2 (60.8%) compared to group 1 (39.2%). In group 2, 79.8% of patients were mechanically ventilated, compared to 20.2% of patients in group 1. Finally, the mortality rate in patients with a CRP ≥ 100mg/l was 77.4%, compared with 22.6% for patients with a CRP < 100mg/l. These findings are all statistically highly significant (p<0.001) Conclusion Given the high contagiousness of the virus and the emergence of several variants, the management of the COVID-19 pandemic has focused more on prevention through vaccination against the virus, but also on an early identification of patients likely to evolve unfavorably for a personalized management.

Guillain Barre syndrome as a complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Covid-19 infection usually manifests with respiratory symptoms, but neurological signs might be the mean symptom revealing this infection such as Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS).COVID-19 associated GBS seems to be more severe than non-COVID-19 GBS. CASE MANAGEMENT: We reported a 49 old-man admitted in the intensive care unit for bilateral ascending symmetrical paresthesia associated with lower limb numbness and sphincter disorders two weeks after an upper respiratory infection. The diagnosis of post-Covid-19 GBS was maintained, and the evolution was favorable after Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIg) and plasma exchange (PLEX) as a second therapy. CONCLUSION: This case report suggest the probable causal link between COVID 19 and GBS. This severe association prompts us to do further research that may help professionals in an early diagnosis and early treatment thus improving morbidity and mortality.

Bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax in critically-ill COVID-19 infants: About two cases.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 is an emerging infection, it is the first large-scale pandemic of the 21st century. Several complications have been described during this infection but spontaneous pneumothorax remains an uncommon complication, even more so in infants. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We report two cases of a 9-month-old and 18-month-old males admitted to our department for the management of an acute respiratory distress due to a COVID-19 infection associated to a spontaneous pneumothorax successfully drained.While one patient had a favorable outcome, the other was readmitted to our department for the management of a septic shock secondary to a urinary tract infection with a deadly outcome. DISCUSSION: In this paragraph we describe known causes behind spontaneous pneumothorax, before detailing the different pathogenesis hypotheses linking pneumothorax to COVID-19, all while comparing data to the literature related to the adult population. CONCLUSION: Spontaneous pneumothorax is a serious complication associated with severe COVID-19 that can occur in infants and must be considered in the event of a respiratory aggravation or a persistent hypoxia.

Therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in intensive care unit: Cases series.

INTRODUCTION: COVID 19 pneumonia can lead to an inappropriate inflammatory response, and can be complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome, multivisceral failure with a high mortality rate. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of therapeutic plasma exchange on the excessive inflammatory response. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we included 7 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU) department of the university hospital of Oujda. COVID-19 cases were confirmed by RT PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain) and CT (computerized tomography) imaging according to WHO guidelines. Therapeutic plasma exchange was performed decrease cytokine storm-induced ARDS (Acute respiratory distress syndrome). Inflammation marker assays were performed before and after therapeutic plasma exchange to assess its efficacy. RESULTS: Levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6) and acute phase response proteins, including ferritin and CRP, were elevated before therapeutic plasma exchange.After therapeutic plasma exchange, levels of acute phase reactants, inflammatory mediators, were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that therapeutic plasma exchange reduces the inflammatory response in patients with severe COVID-19 not undergoing mechanical ventilation. Further studies are needed to explore the efficacy of therapeutic plasma exchange in patients with COVID-19.

Dexamethasone or methylprednisolone therapy in covid-19 pneumonia: A retrospective and comparative study of 513 cases.

BACKGROUNDS: Corona virus disease 19 (Covid-19) affects especially the respiratory tract, and induces lung injury which may progress to the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Various treatment options were tried all over the world, corticosteroids had showed beneficial effects.The Objective of this study, is to compare the safety and efficiency of two corticosteroids: dexamethasone and prednisolone in the treatment of Covid-19 infection. METHODS: This retrospective and comparative study included 513 patients diagnosed with Covid-19 infection and were admitted to intensive care unit of our university hospital center of MOHAMMED VI Oujda from March 1, 2020, to December 31st, 2020. RESULTS: In this study, 513 cases were included, 230 patients were received methylprednisolone, and 283 were treated with dexamethasone. The median age in methylprednisolone group was 64 years, and 63 years in the second group treated with dexamethasone. Patients treated with dexamethasone had more critically lesions compared to patients treated with methylprednisolone (67.6%), these patients had a good evolution with a significant reduction of oxygen supplementation, lower use of invasive ventilation and a significant improvement in biological parameters. The difference in outcome between the two groups in terms of mortality was significantly reduced in the second group. CONCLUSION: Both steroids are efficient in the management of mild, moderate and severe Covid-19 pneumonia with a clear superiority of dexamethasone especially in severe forms.

The impact of mental health on COVID 19 disease progression: Case report.

It has been observed that mental disorder is associated with an aggravation of COVID 19 disease. A 44-year-old male patient, with no medical history, admitted to the emergency room for dyspnea, the exploration revealed SARS-COV-2 pneumonia. The patient was stable until he was aware of the death of his sister by COVID 19, he was admitted into the intensive care unit 24hours later in a serious condition after worsening of the inflammatory balance and pulmonary lesions. COVID 19 requires appropriate mental health management to help improve the prognosis of this disease.

Spontaneous gas effusions: A rare complication of covid 19.

Spontaneous gas effusion unrelated to assisted ventilation is a newly recognized complication of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The objective of the present study was to examine the incidence, risk factors and the outcomes of Spontaneous gas effusions. 610 cases were analyzable, with 3 patients developing spontaneous gas effusion. This latter was associated with increased intubation and a trend towards death in one case. Drainage was required in two cases. In conclusion, spontaneous gas effusions appeared to be a rare complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Further research is needed to investigate its pathogenesis.

Myocardial infarction complicated by cardiac arrest revealing SARS-COV-2 infection: Case report.

INTRODUCTION: COVID19 infection is most often reveled by pulmonary symptoms, however cardiovascular manifestations has been observed revealing this infection with absence of respiratory symptoms. CLINICAL CASE: A 62 year old female patient, with no medical history, admitted to the emergency room for epigastric pain, with no respiratory signs, the exploration revealed myocardial infarction with COVID 19 infection. CONCLUSION: COVID19 infection manifest mainly with respiratory symptoms but it can also be revealed by cardiac manifestations with absence of respiratory symptoms.Physicians must be aware of these atypical manifestations and act accordingly to isolate patients to limit the spread of this disease.

Intra cardiac thrombus in critically ill patient with coronavirus disease 2019: Case report.

INTRODUCTION: With the outbreak of COVID-19, the number of cardiac manifestations related to this virus was more remarquable, among them heart thrombus (HTh) which is considered as a rare and severe complication associated with thromboembolic phenomena. METHODS: We present case report of 4 patients who presented heart thrombus as a complication of COVID-19. CASES REPORT MANAGEMENT: During the pandemic, these patients were presented to our center for respiratory symptoms related to COVID-19 infection. All of them was hemodynamically unstable. On further assessment, Diagnosis was confirmed by trans -thoracic echography, one patient (1/4) had left ventricle thrombus, one patient (1/4) had right atrium thrombus and right ventricle thrombus was dominated in the rest of patients (2/4). Therapeutic component was based on unfractionated heparin and fibrinolytic. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 patients could represent a population at high risk of HTh. Multidisciplinary approach and bed routine transthoracic echography can enhance the management of this cardiac complication.

Acute pericarditis revealing COVID-19 infection: Case report.

The COVID-19 is a global pandemic that is now responsible for more than 2 million deaths around the world. Its clinical manifestations are well known such as fever, fatigue and other respiratory signs like severe cough, dyspnea. Cardiac involvement, however, is less recognized and often underestimated and could be the only manifestation of COVID-19. Case presentation: We report a case of pericarditis as the primary presentation of COVID-19 among a young, healthy individual with no medical background, in the absence of the conventional respiratory signs. The diagnosis was based on a set of clinical, biological, radiological and electrocardiographic findings. In this case, the treatment was based on the use of Colchicine in addition to COVID-19 treatment. The outcome was favorable; noticing regression of symptoms and disappearance of pericardial effusion within two weeks. Clinical discussion: Acute pericarditis has been widely described in literature as probable complication of COVID-19, yet only few articles have reported it as a primary manifestation of COVID-19. Conclusion: Chest pain could be the only presenting symptom of COVID-19 among young, healthy individuals.To that end, clinicians should recognize cardiac involvement of COVID-19 and act accordingly to isolate patients and further limit the spread of the disease.