[Intoxications in nephrology: clinical cases and local experience in Sciacca Hospital]

Intoxications are a common problem all over the world and cause acid-base balance disturbances, dysionias or acute renal failure;they can develop rapidly leading to severe cellular dysfunction and death. Intoxications and drug overdoses often require the intervention of Nephrologists, for the correction of acidosis, the administration of selective inhibitory enzymes and also hemodialysis treatment. Extracorporeal therapies have been used to remove toxins for over fifty years and have acquired an increasing role, thanks to the use of new treatment modalities in intoxicated patients. In our clinical practice in the Covid period we have found an increase in clinical cases of intoxication with psychiatric drugs, including benzodiazepines, clozapine, lithium, quetiapine and cocaine.

Clinical aspects of covid-19 in cancer patients

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has represent-ed a scientific and sanitary challenge in recent months. Subjects of advanced age appear to be the most frequently affected;in addition, these tend to present comorbidities such as hyperten-sion, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, and cancer;worsening the prognosis and clinical course of the infection. The impact of the pandemic on oncologic patients has been massive. Observational studies have shown that infection rates tend to be much higher in cancer patients in comparison with the general population. Like-wise, oncologic patients have greater risk of de-veloping severe complications of COVID-19, including death. Moreover, cancer treatments im-plicate constant visits to healthcare institutions, significantly increasing the risk of viral transmission independently of the treatment received. Furthermore, various antineoplastic treatments have immunosuppressing effects, and treating oncologists face the uncertainty of suspend-ing or continuing treatment in patients at risk of COVID-19. The objective of this review is to ad-dress relevant clinical aspects of COVID-19 in patients with cancer, and revise current recommendations regarding therapeutic management in this context.