Acute pulmonary embolism in COVID-19 pandemic: prevalence and intrahospital outcome: a single center experience

Purpose: We want to evaluate clinical, laboratory profiles and intra-hospital outcome in patients with acute PE treated in intensive care unit in the period of COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This is a single center, retrospective cohort study of patients with confirmed acute PE admitted in Intensive Cardiac Care Unit of a tertiary level university hospital between January and December 2020. Detailed history, risk factors, laboratory parameters and treatment strategy based on patient risk were assessed. All patients underwent 2-dimensional echocardiography, lower limb venous Doppler and CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA). sPESI score and intra-hospital outcomes were evaluated in all patients. Nasopharyngeal smear and realtime reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was performed in order to confirm COVID-19 infection. Results: We studied 47 patients with acute PE treated in our ICU, with mean age 58.6 ± 19.4 years. Eight patients (17%) had massive PE (central thrombus) and 39 (83%) had sub massive PE (subsegmental thrombus) confirmed by CTPA. Six patients (12,7%) had history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), 3 patients (6,3%) had history of prior PE, 4 patients (8,5%) were operated within 3 months, 7 patients (14,8%) had history of malignancy, 24 patient's had increased body weight and obesity (51%). Twelve patients (25,5%) were tested for COVID 19 with real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, and 3 come positive (12.5%). Eight patients were high risk with shock (17%), intermediate high risk were 29 patients (61.7%) and intermediate low risk were 10 patients (21.3%). sPESI score was >1 in all 47 patients. Abnormal RV function with PAH was found in 32 patients (68%). Five high risk, unstable patients died within 72 hours of admission, resulting in an overall ICU mortality rate of 10,6% and 62.5% mortality rate in patients with cardiogenic shock. Patients with PE and COVID-19 had significantly higher D-dimer and hs-Troponin I levels comparing to the patients with patients negative for COVID-19. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed thrombolytic therapy OR 2.145 (95% CI: 1.105-4,512), D-Dimers >4.500 ng/ml OR 1.893 (95% CI: 0.932-3.241), high risk PE OR 3.98 (95% CI: 1.396-5.641) and acute renal failure OR 2.421 (95% CI: 1.105-4.762) as independent mortality predictors. Eight patients have been treated with fibrinolysis (t-PA), and 39 patients with Heparin therapy. 40 survived patients were discharged with NOAC treatment (95,2%). Conclusions: Pulmonary embolism cardiology clinic ICU admission in the period of COVID-19 pandemic decreased, with increase of PE severity, patients risk and mortality rate. Thrombolytic therapy, D-Dimers >4.500 ng/ml, high risk PE and acute renal failure were independent mortality predictors. Thrombolysis was successful treatment for high risk patients with low bleeding risk.

"Heart full of thrombi": Post COVID-19 multisite thrombosis assessed by echocardiography and pulmonary CT

Thrombosis in general, and especially venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the most common complications associated with COVID-19 infection. We present a 48 years old male patient with dyspnea and severe multisite post Covid-19 disease thrombotic complications, with pattern never seen before, that includes both ventricles, pulmonary arteries and peripheral vein involvement, assessed by echocardiography, vascular ultrasound and pulmonary CT angiography. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of IMAGING is the property of Akademiai Kiado Zrt and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in treatment of coronavirus disease-19

At present, we are facing coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 with several treatment choices and reports of different treatment outcomes. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine use for the management of severely ill patients started as a quite enthusiastic treatment option, following several small clinical trials, case series reports, public authorities, and media affirmation. However, the evidence we have so far is conflicting and some national societies and professional institutions implicate that we should wait for definite treatment recommendations until there are solid data for or against the use of these drugs. Until we have more powerful evidence in our hands, we should be aware of safety issues of the old drugs for the new application in the emergency state we are facing today with the COVID-19 pandemic. We performed a concise review of strengths, limitations, and awareness for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine use for COVID-19 infection treatment based on the evidence the science has today.

Coronavirus disease-19 and cardiovascular disease

We are facing serious coronavirus disease-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. Among infected individuals, there is a higher prevalence of the cardiovascular disease, which leads to their poor prognosis. Myocardial injury is present in more than 15% of critical ill patients in the form of acute myocardial dysfunction or subsequent myocardial injury that develops as disease severity. This new virus pandemic is a global challenge for health-care system which was we still have much to learn.