Increased incidence of giant cell arteritis and associated stroke during the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain: A nation-wide population study.

INTRODUCTION: SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccines might have increased the incidence of giant-cell arteritis (GCA) and the risk of associated stroke in Spain. METHODS: Retrospective nation-wide observational analysis of all adults hospitalized with GCA in Spain during 5 years (Jan-2016 and Dec-2021). The incidence and proportion of admissions with or because of GCA and GCA-associated stroke were compared between pre-pandemic (2016-2019) and pandemic (2020 and 2021) years. Sensitivity analyses were conducted for the different COVID-19 waves and vaccine timing schedules. RESULTS: A total of 17,268 hospital admissions in patients diagnosed with GCA were identified. During 2020 there were 79.3 and 8.1 per 100,000 admissions of GCA and GCA-associated stroke, respectively. During 2021 these figures were 80.8 and 7.7 per 100,00 admissions, respectively. As comparison, yearly admissions due to GCA and GCA-associated stroke were 72.4 and 5.7 per 100,00, respectively, during the pre-pandemic period (p < 0.05). Coincident with the third wave of COVID-19 (and first vaccine dosing), the rate of GCA-associated stroke admissions increased significantly (from 6.7 to 12%; p < 0.001). Likewise, there was an increase in GCA-associated stroke (6.6% vs 4.1%, p = 0.016) coincident with the third dose vaccination (booster) in patients older than 70 at the end of 2021. In multivariate analysis, only patients admitted during the third COVID-19 wave (and first vaccine dosing) (OR = 1.89, 95% CI 1.22-2.93), and during the third vaccination dosing in patients older than 70 (booster) (OR = 1.66, CI 1.11-2.49), presented a higher GCA-associated stroke risk than the same months of previous years after adjustment by age, sex, classical cardiovascular risk factors and COVID-19 diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increased incidence of GCA during 2020 and 2021. Moreover, the risk of associated stroke significantly risen accompanying times of COVID-19 vaccine dosing, hypothetically linked to an increased thrombotic risk of mRNA-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Hence, forthcoming vaccine policies and indications must weigh the risk of severe COVID-19 with the risk of flare or stroke in patients with GCA.

Predictors of in-hospital mortality in HIV-infected patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Underlying immunodeficiency is associated with severe COVID-19, but the prognosis of persons with HIV (PWH) with COVID-19 is under debate. METHODS: Nationwide, retrospective, observational analysis of all hospitalizations with COVID-19 during year 2020 in Spain. Stratification was made according to HIV status. The National Registry of Hospital Discharges was used with the ICD-10 coding list. RESULTS: A total of 117,694 adults were hospitalized with COVID-19 during 2020. Only 234 (0.2%) were HIV-positives. More than 95% were on antiretroviral therapy. Compared to HIV-negatives, PWH were younger (mean age 53.2 vs 66.5 years-old; p < 0.001) and more frequently male (74.8% vs 56.6%; p < 0.001). Most co-morbidities predisposing to severe COVID-19 (diabetes, hypertension, dementia, cardiovascular disease) were more frequent in HIV-negatives. In contrast, the rate of baseline liver disease was over 6-fold higher in PWH (27.4% vs 4.4%; p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was lower in PWH (9.4% vs 16%; p = 0.004). In multivariate analysis, older age, dementia and especially advanced liver disease (RR: 7.6) were the major determinants of death in PWH hospitalized with COVID-19. CONCLUSION: HIV-infected patients hospitalized in Spain with COVID-19 during 2020 had better survival than HIV-negatives, most likely explained by younger age and lower rate of co-morbidities. However, advanced liver disease was a major predictor of death in PWH hospitalized with COVID-19.

Is SARS-CoV-2 the only cause of long-COVID?

Around 10% of adults infected with SARS-CoV-2 that survive a first episode of COVID-19 appear to experience long-term clinical manifestations. The signs and symptoms of this post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) include fatigue, dyspnea, joint pain, myalgia, chest pain, cough, anosmia, dysgeusia, headache, depression, anxiety, memory loss, concentration difficulties, and insomnia. These sequelae remind the constellation of clinical manifestations previously recognized as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). This condition has been described following distinct infectious events, mostly acute viral illnesses. In this way, the pathophysiology of PACS might overlap with mechanisms involved in other post-infectious fatigue syndromes. The risk of PACS is more frequent in women than men. Additional host genetic factors could be involved. There is a dysregulation of multiple body organs and systems, involving the immune system, the coagulation cascade, endocrine organs, autonomic nervous system, microbiota-gut-brain axis, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, etc. Hypothetically, an abnormal response to certain infectious agents could trigger the development of postinfectious fatigue syndromes.

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for viral infections other than HIV

SUMMARY The battle against human viral infections has historically relied on two medical strategies, namely vaccines to protect from contagion and antivirals to treat infected patients. In the absence of vaccines, antivirals have occasionally been used as peri-exposure prophylaxis, given either before (pre-exposure prophylaxis) or right after (post-exposure prophylaxis). In an unprecedented way, the use of antiretrovirals as chemoprophylaxis has triumphed in the HIV field. Indeed, oral antiretrovirals given either daily or at demand to HIV-uninfected individuals engaged in high-risk behaviors protect from contagion. More recently, the advent of long-acting formulations has allowed HIV protection following intramuscular injections every three months. Can we envision a similar prophylactic strategy for other human viral infections? The advent of such ‘chemical vaccines’ would fill an unmet need when classical vaccines do not exist, cannot be recommended, immune responses are suboptimal, escape mutants emerge or immunity wanes. In this review, we discuss the opportunities for antiviral chemoprophylaxis for viral hepatitis B and C, retroviruses HTLV-1 and HIV-2, and respiratory viruses influenza and SARS-CoV-2, among others.

Oral antivirals for the prevention and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Vaccines and antivirals are the classical weapons deployed to contain, prevent, and treat life-threatening viral illnesses. Specifically, for SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccines protect against severe COVID-19 disease manifestations and complications. However, waning immunity and emergence of vaccine escape mutants remains a growing threat. This is highlighted by the current surge of the omicron COVID-19 variant. Thus, there is a race to find treatment alternatives. We contend that oral small molecule antivirals that halt SARSCoV- 2 infection are essential. Compared to currently available monoclonal antibodies and remdesivir, where parenteral administration is required, oral antivirals offer treatments in an outpatient setting with dissemination available on a larger scale. In response to this need at 2021's end, regulatory agencies provided emergency use authorization for both molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir. These medicines act on the viral polymerase and protease, respectively. Each is given for 5 days and can reduce disease progression by 30% and 89%, respectively. The advent of additional oral antivirals, the assessment of combination therapies, the formulation of extended-release medications, and their benefit for both early treatment and prophylaxis will likely transform the landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abnormal Nailfold Capillaroscopy in a Patient With Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is an emerging entity during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Medium- and large-vessel changes are present in MIS-C; however, microcirculatory impairment has not been documented. We report a case of MIS-C in a toddler that presented with persistent fever, gastrointestinal symptoms and rash. Nailfold videocapillaroscopy was abnormal, suggesting microcirculatory disease in the setting of MIS-C.