The Greek Collaborative Long COVID Study: Non-Hospitalized and Hospitalized Patients Share Similar Symptom Patterns.

Long COVID-19 syndrome refers to persisting symptoms (>12 weeks) after the initial coronavirus infection and is estimated to affect 3% to 12% of people diagnosed with the disease globally. Aim: We conducted a collaborative study with the Long COVID patient organization in Greece, in order to estimate the characteristics, symptoms, and challenges these patients confront. Methods: Data were collected from 208 patients using unstructured qualitative free-text entries in an anonymized online questionnaire. Results: The majority of respondents (68.8%) were not hospitalized and reported lingering symptoms (66.8%) for more than six months. Eighteen different symptoms (fatigue, palpitations, shortness of breath, parosmia, etc.) were mentioned in both hospitalized and community patients. Awareness of Long COVID sequelae seems to be low even among medical doctors. Treatment options incorporating targeted rehabilitation programs are either not available or still not included inthe management plan of Long COVID patients. Conclusions: Patients infected with coronavirus with initial mild symptoms suffer from the same persistent symptoms as those who were hospitalized. Long COVID syndrome appears to be a multi-systemic entity and a multidisciplinary medical approach should be adopted in order to correctly diagnose and successfully manage these patients.

Role of new biomarkers: functional and structural damage.

Traditional diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) depends on detection of oliguria and rise of serum creatinine level, which is an unreliable and delayed marker of kidney damage. Delayed diagnosis of AKI in the critically ill patient is related to increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged length of stay, and cost escalation. The discovery of a reliable biomarker for early diagnosis of AKI would be very helpful in facilitating early intervention, evaluating the effectiveness of therapy, and eventually reducing cost and improving outcome. Innovative technologies such as genomics and proteomics have contributed to the discovery of new biomarkers, such as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), cystatin C (Cys C), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), interleukin-18 (IL-18), and liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP). The current status of the most promising of these novel AKI biomarkers, including NGAL, Cys C, KIM-1, L-FABP, and IL-18, is reviewed.

Serum levels of gelatinase associated lipocalin as indicator of the inflammatory status in coronary artery disease.

Background. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease and the acute clinical manifestations represent acute on chronic inflammation. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is found in the granules of human neutrophils, with many diverse functions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypothesis that levels NGAL in blood may reflect the inflammatory process in various stages of coronary artery disease. Methods. We studied 140 patients, with SA 40, UA 35, NSTEMI 40, and STEMI 25, and 20 healthy controls. Serum NGAL was measured upon admission and before coronary angiography. Results. Significant differences were observed in median serum-NGAL(ng/mL) between patients with SA (79.23 (IQR, 37.50-100.32)), when compared with UA (108.00 (68.34-177.59)), NSTEMI (166.49 (109.24-247.20)), and STEMI (178.63 (111.18-305.92)) patients and controls (50.31 (44.30-69.78)) with significant incremental value from SA to STEMI. We observed a positive and significant correlation between serum-NGAL and hs-CRP (spearman coefficient rho = 0.685, P < 0.0001) as well as with neutrophil counts (r = 0.511, P < 0.0001). Conclusions. In patients with coronary artery disease serum levels of NGAL increase and reflect the degree of inflammatory process. In patients with acute coronary syndromes, serum levels of NGAL have high negative predictive value and reflecting the inflammatory status could show the severity of coronary clinical syndrome.

Diagnostic coronary angiography is related to decreased TNF-alpha production after ex-vivo whole blood stimulation with LPS.

BACKGROUND: Several studies showed serum markers elevation as a result to coronary angiography. We investigated the effect of diagnostic coronary angiography (DCA) on the development of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and on whole blood cytokine production capacity after ex-vivo LPS stimulation. METHODS: In this observational study, clinical characteristics and serum cytokines of the patients were recorded at baseline and at 2, 6, 12, and 24h after DCA. Peripheral blood was collected at baseline and at 2, and 24h for complete blood count, coagulation profile and ex-vivo (100 microl) stimulation with LPS (500 pg) for subsequent cytokine measurement. Values are expressed as median+/-IQR and were compared using Wilcoxon's signed rank test with Bonferroni adjustment. RESULTS: We included 23 male patients (mean age 52.0+/-18.0 years) undergoing DCA. None of the patients developed clinical or laboratory signs of SIRS. Serum IL-6 significantly increased at 12h. There was a significant decrease in TNF-alpha production after ex-vivo LPS stimulation of whole blood at 2 and 24h compared to baseline (median+/-IQR; 716.0+/-319.0; 576.0+/-715.0 vs. 1154+/-844.0 pg/ml; respectively) suggesting that DCA may cause transient endotoxin tolerance. CONCLUSIONS: DCA is related to increased serum IL-6 levels but does not cause clinical SIRS. Development of SIRS after DCA is indicative of other in origin complication. DCA is associated with immune cells hyporesponsiveness, possibly through monocyte depression, expressed as decreased TNF-alpha production after whole blood stimulation with LPS ex vivo.

Painful peripheral neuropathy associated with voriconazole use.

BACKGROUND: Voriconazole is a new antifungal agent that has been recently introduced into clinical practice. We found no published reports of painful peripheral neuropathy associated with its use. OBJECTIVE: To describe a unique case of painful peripheral neuropathy associated with voriconazole use. SETTING: University hospital. PATIENT: A 43-year-old patient who had undergone liver transplantation received voriconazole for invasive deep sinus aspergillosis and developed intolerable pain in all extremities. RESULTS: A laboratory workup and electromyographic and nerve conduction studies were performed to exclude other causes of neuropathy in this complicated patient. Results of electromyographic and nerve conduction studies were suggestive of a demyelinating neuropathy. Symptoms and signs of neuropathy disappeared shortly after voriconazole discontinuation, suggesting a possible role in the development of neuropathy. The patient continues to do well 10 months after this event. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of voriconazole-associated peripheral neuropathy. Awareness of this association and careful monitoring for neurological signs are necessary for patients receiving voriconazole.