Treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia with low-dose radiotherapy plus standard of care versus standard of care alone in frail patients : The SEOR-GICOR IPACOVID comparative cohort trial.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy of lung low-dose radiotherapy (LD-RT) in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ambispective study with two cohorts to compare treatment with standard of care (SoC) plus a single dose of 0.5 Gy to the whole thorax (experimental prospective cohort) with SoC alone (control retrospective cohort) for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia not candidates for admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) for mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: Fifty patients treated with LD-RT were compared with 50 matched controls. Mean age was 85 years in both groups. An increase in arterial oxygen partial pressure (PaO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (PAFI) in the experimental LD-RT-treated group compared to the control group could not be found at 48 h after LD-RT, which was the primary endpoint of the study. However, PAFI values significantly improved after 1 month (473 vs. 302 mm Hg; p < 0.0001). Pulse oxymetric saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen (SAFI) values were also significantly higher in LD-RT-treated patients than in control patients at 1 week (405 vs. 334 mm Hg; p = 0.0157) and 1 month after LD-RT (462 vs. 326 mm Hg; p < 0.0001). All other timepoint measurements of the respiratory parameters were similar across groups. Patients in the experimental group were discharged from the hospital significantly earlier (23 vs. 31 days; p = 0.047). Fifteen and 26 patients died due to COVID-19 pneumonia in the experimental and control cohorts, respectively (30% vs. 48%; p = 0.1). LD-RT was associated with a decreased odds ratio (OR) for 1­month COVID-19 mortality (OR = 0.302 [0.106-0.859]; p = 0.025) when adjusted for potentially confounding factors. Overall survival was significantly prolonged in the LD-RT group compared to the control group (log-rank p = 0.027). No adverse events related to radiation treatment were observed. CONCLUSION: Treatment of frail patients with COVID-19 pneumonia with SoC plus single-dose LD-RT of 0.5 Gy improved respiratory parameters, reduced the period of hospitalization, decreased the rate of 1­month mortality, and prolonged actuarial overall survival compared to SoC alone.

Enfermedad celíaca y el nuevo Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

To date, it has not been described that celiac disease (CD) increases the risk of contagion by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 nor the severity of the disease. The main risk factors for severe disease for this coronavirus are old male patients (>65 years) with hypertension, diabetes, obesity, smoking, lung, cardiovascular and kidney diseases. The only treatment for CD is a gluten-free diet that improves the intestinal immune response. Adherence to treatment and follow-up of recommendations by experts during the COVID-19 period, would ensure celiac patients are better prepared for this pandemic. Hasta la fecha no se ha descrito que la enfermedad celíaca (EC) incremente el riesgo de contagio por el nuevo coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 ni la gravedad de la enfermedad. Los principales factores de riego de enfermedad grave para este coronavirus son pacientes mayores de 65 años de sexo masculino con hipertensión, diabetes, obesidad, tabaquismo, y enfermedades pulmonar, cardiovascular y renal. El único tratamiento de la EC es la dieta libre de gluten que mejora la respuesta inmune intestinal. La adherencia al tratamiento y el seguimiento de recomendaciones dadas por expertos durante el período COVID-19, aseguraría a los enfermos celíacos, estar mejor preparados para esta pandemia.