Clinical and radiological characteristics in patients with SARS-CoV-2-associated pneumonia. A descriptive study in a secondary care center.

INTRODUCTION: Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the gold standard for establishing the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Chest computed tomography (CCT), as a diagnostic complement, classifies tomographic findings according to the COVID-19 Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS). OBJECTIVE: To determine CCT sensitivity and specificity for COVID-19 diagnosis. METHODS: We reviewed RT-PCR results, as well as their respective CCTs. All CCTs were classified according to CO-RADS. CCT sensitivity and specificity were evaluated using the RT-PCR result that was closest to that of CCT as reference. RESULTS: We included 412 patients, out of whom 277 were males (46-70 years) and 130 were females (45-71 years); with 181 negative and 231 positive tests, a sensitivity of 92.15% and specificity of 79.32% were obtained. Mortality increased after six hospitalization days, in males and in CO-RADS 4, 5 and 6 in comparison with CO-RADS 1, 2 and 3. CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis plays a decisive role in the prognosis of SARS-CoV-2-associated pneumonia. Although RT-PCR is current gold standard, false negatives are common; for this reason, CCT helps to confirm suspected cases, even at early stages. This imaging technique is an accessible and fundamental study for classification, diagnosis and prognosis.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con transcripción inversa en tiempo real (RT-PCR) es el estándar de oro para establecer el diagnóstico de enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). La tomografía computarizada de tórax (TCT), como complemento diagnóstico, clasifica los hallazgos tomográficos de acuerdo con el sistema CO-RADS (COVID-19 Reporting and Data System). OBJETIVO: Determinar la sensibilidad y especificidad de la TCT para el diagnóstico de COVID-19. MÉTODOS: Consultamos los resultados de RT-PCR, así como sus respectivas TCT. Todas las TCT se clasificaron de según CO-RADS. Se evaluó sensibilidad y especificidad de la TCT utilizando el resultado de RT-PCR más cercano de TCT como referencia. RESULTADOS: Incluimos 412 pacientes, incluyendo 277 hombres (46-70 años) y 130 mujeres (45-71 años), con 181 pruebas negativas y 231 positivas; obteniendo sensibilidad del 92.15% y especificidad del 79.32%. La mortalidad aumentó después de seis días de hospitalización, en el sexo masculino y en CO-RADS 4, 5 y 6 en comparación con CO-RADS 1, 2 y 3. CONCLUSIONES: El diagnóstico temprano es decisivo en el pronóstico de la neumonía SARS CoV 2. Aunque la RT-PCR es el estándar de oro actual, los falsos negativos son frecuentes, por lo que la TCT ayuda a confirmar los casos sospechosos, incluso en etapas tempranas. Este estudio de imagen es un estudio accesible y fundamental para la clasificación, diagnóstico y pronóstico.

Anti-chlamydophila pneumoniae antibodies as associated factor for carotid atherosclerosis in patients with AIDS.

Atherosclerosis is a multifactor disease. Lately, infectious factors such as C. pneumoniae have been found to be involved. To determine whether the infection by C. pneumoniae is a risk factor for atherosclerosis in patients with AIDS. Case-control study on 43 patients with AIDS under HAART (16 cases and 27 controls). To document atherosclerosis, a carotid and transcranial Doppler ultrasound was performed. Anti-C pneumoniae antibodies were searched using a microimmunofluorescence test for IgM and IgG levels. To study the associations with risk of atherosclerosis, Odds Ratios were calculated for each IgG anti-C. pneumoniae antibody titre. A titre of 1:64 significantly increased the risk of atherosclerosis. These results suggest that hypertriglyceridemia and C. pneumoniae infection coexistence significantly increases the risk of atherosclerosis. The inverse geometric average of the antibodies titre against C. pneumoniae in individuals with atheromatous plaque fell to 64, two titres above the controls. This difference turned out to be statistically significant. Exposure to C. pneumoniae with antibodies (IgG) should be considered in any HIV diagnosed patient as a risk factor for atherosclerosis, having found that the inverse geometric averages of antibodies titre are significantly different comparing cases and controls, especially in patients with dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia or in patients whose treatments could cause these conditions. In patients with concomitant hypertriglyceridemia, the association increases up to three times. It is advisable that AIDS patients take a serological test to determine exposure to C. pneumoniae, and to assess treatment options.