Risk signals mining of ribavirin and interferon-alpha based on the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database.

Objective: To identify which induced the symptoms/signs and laboratory abnormal findings occurred in patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia, by disease itself or by ribavirin and interferon-alpha treatments, through mining the adverse events (AEs) signals of the 2 antivirus agents. Method(s): According to the symptoms/signs and laboratory abnormal findings of novel coronavirus pneumonia mentioned in the literature and "Diagnosis and Treatment scheme of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (trial version 5)", AEs in this study were selected. Related data were collected from the U.S. FDA Adverse Events Reporting System (FARES) from Jan 1, 2004 to Dec 31, 2019, and the reporting odds ratio (ROR) method was used for signals detection for the above-mentioned 2 drugs. Result(s): A total of 7 582 463 AEs related to drugs were reported in the FAERS database, of which 31 775 related to ribavirin and 2 345 related to interferon-alpha. The results showed that AEs related to ribavirin in respiratory, thoracic, and mediastinal disorders were nasal congestion, cough, laryngeal pain, pharyngeal oedema, productive cough, and dyspnoea;AEs related to interferon-alpha were laryngeal pain and haemoptysis. In other system organ class, AEs related to above 2 drugs were pyrexia, feeling cold, pyrexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, arthralgia, myalgia, and rash. AEs of laboratory abnormal results related to ribavirin were white blood cell/platelet count decrease and aspartate/alanine aminotransferase increase;AEs related to interferon-alpha were white blood cell/platelet count decrease, aspartate/alanine aminotransferase increase, and lymphocyte count decrease. Conclusion(s): Some AEs induced by ribavirin and interferon-alpha were similar to symptoms/signs and laboratory abnormal findings of novel coronavirus pneumonia, which should be distinguished in the clinical practice.Copyright © 2020 by the Chinese Medical Association.

A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW

SESSION TITLE: COVID-19 Case Report Posters 3 SESSION TYPE: Case Report Posters PRESENTED ON: 10/19/2022 12:45 pm - 01:45 pm INTRODUCTION: Epiglottitis is an inflammation of the epiglottis which can be life-threatening in the absence of prompt intervention. Although primarily a pediatric condition, streptococcus pneumonia has been identified as a common pathogen in adults. SARS-CoV 2 has been known to affect a multitude of systems including the upper respiratory tract, but rarely the epiglottis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old female with a past history of hypertension, and hypothyroidism presented with acute onset pharyngodynia and dysphagia with a feeling of throat closing up due to swelling and difficulty speaking. She had a recent COVID-19 diagnosis and was doing well except for mild fatigue. Upon presentation, she was hemodynamically stable. Physical exam revealed posterior pharyngeal edema without any exudate, mildly edematous uvula, and no stridor. Laboratory data was pristine except for elevated inflammatory markers. Rapid streptococcal test and MRSA swab were negative. Sputum culture showed usual respiratory flora and blood cultures were negative. A neck CT showed diffuse edema without any evidence of abscess. Laryngoscopy performed by the ENT surgeon revealed diffuse edema including epiglottitis. Emergent intubation revealed supra and epiglottis edema sparing the vocal cords. The patient was given Decadron and Benadryl to help with the edema along with clindamycin and subsequently transferred to ICU for further care. She was treated with Ceftriaxone for 7 days due to a chest X-ray finding of pneumonia. As for COVID 19 treatment, she received a course of Remdesivir and Decadron. Decadron was given at an increased interval to reduce edema around the epiglottis. Her ICU course was complicated with hypotension requiring intermittent vasopressor support, and acute kidney injury from ischemic acute tubular necrosis which slowly improved. Repeat CT chest showed bibasilar consolidations with peripheral ground-glass opacities. In view of hospital-acquired pneumonia, she was started on Ertapenem. Her clinical condition improved and she was successfully extubated. She was shifted to the floors from where she was discharged without any further complications. DISCUSSION: There are only two other reported cases of COVID 19 epiglottitis. The patient's advanced age and obesity were non-modifiable risk factors, but the COVID-19 infection played a role. The virus can lead to excessive upregulation of the host inflammatory response through repeat epithelial and endothelial damage leading to a cytokine storm, which may be responsible for this presentation. A great level of attention is to be maintained while attending to these patients given the multitude of systems that can be affected. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 is a potential cause of life-threatening acute epiglottitis. Early suspicion and direct visualization of the epiglottis is the key to success for early management. Reference #1: Emberey J, Velala SS, Marshall B, et al. Acute Epiglottitis Due to COVID-19 Infection. Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2021;8(3):002280. Published 2021 Mar 3. doi:10.12890/2021_002280 Reference #2: Smith C, Mobarakai O, Sahra S, Twito J, Mobarakai N. Case report: Epiglottitis in the setting of COVID-19. IDCases. 2021;24:e01116. doi: 10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01116. Epub 2021 Apr 7. PMID: 33842206;PMCID: PMC8025537. DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Arunava Saha