ABSTRACT
Methemoglobinemia (MetHb) is a rare, life-threatening condition that occurs when the body is exposed to oxidative stress. It is typically corrected through the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-dependent shunt. G6PD deficiency is the most common enzymatic deficiency worldwide. This genetic disorder makes patients susceptible to oxidative stress and reduces the expected life span of erythrocytes (red blood cells (RBCs)) among other cells. G6PD deficiency is asymptomatic in most cases unless exogenous stressors are introduced, whether they are dietary, iatrogenic, or infections, such as the highly transmissible serotype of coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We report a case of an 11-year-old male with known insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, who was found to develop methemoglobinemia after being infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The direct effects of COVID-19 on children were reported to be lower than on adults. However, the effects of COVID-19 on children with comorbidities, such as G6PD deficiency in our patient, are understood only to a minimal extent. Moreover, identifying cases of G6PD deficiency prior to initiating treatment with methylene blue, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), or other contraindicated agents is essential to prevent further deterioration in symptoms.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 infection has a high mortality rate and continues to be a global threat, which warrants the identification of all mortality risk factors in critically ill patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective multicenter cohort study conducted in five hospitals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). We enrolled patients with confirmed SARS-COV-2 infection admitted to any of the intensive care units from the five hospitals between March 2020 and July 2020, corresponding to the peak of recorded COVID-19 cases in the KSA. RESULTS: In total, 229 critically ill patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included in the study. The presenting symptoms and signs of patients who died during hospitalization were not significantly different from those observed among patients who survived. The baseline comorbidities that were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality were diabetes (62% vs. 48% among patients who died and survived (p = 0.046)), underlying cardiac disease (38% vs. 19% (p = 0.001)), and underlying kidney disease (32% vs. 12% (p < 0.001)). CONCLUSION: In our cohort, the baseline comorbidities that were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality were diabetes, underlying cardiac disease, and underlying kidney disease. Additionally, the factors that independently influenced mortality among critically ill COVID-19 patients were high Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT )and international normalization ratio (INR), acidosis, and high ferritin.