Analyzing the Interplay between COVID-19 Viral Load, Inflammatory Markers, and Lymphocyte Subpopulations on the Development of Long COVID.

The global impact of the SARS-CoV-2 infection has been substantial, affecting millions of people. Long COVID, characterized by persistent or recurrent symptoms after acute infection, has been reported in over 40% of patients. Risk factors include age and female gender, and various mechanisms, including chronic inflammation and viral persistence, have been implicated in long COVID's pathogenesis. However, there are scarce studies in which multiple inflammatory markers and viral load are analyzed simultaneously in acute infection to determine how they predict for long COVID at long-term follow-up. This study explores the association between long COVID and inflammatory markers, viral load, and lymphocyte subpopulation during acute infection in hospitalized patients to better understand the risk factors of this disease. This longitudinal retrospective study was conducted in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in northern Mexico. Inflammatory parameters, viral load, and lymphocyte subpopulation during the acute infection phase were analyzed, and long COVID symptoms were followed up depending on severity and persistence (weekly or monthly) and assessed 1.5 years after the acute infection. This study analyzed 79 patients, among them, 41.8% presented long COVID symptoms, with fatigue being the most common (45.5%). Patients with long COVID had higher lymphocyte levels during hospitalization, and NK cell subpopulation levels were also associated with long COVID. ICU admission during acute COVID-19 was also linked to the development of long COVID symptoms.

Viral load and its relationship with the inflammatory response and clinical outcomes in hospitalization of patients with COVID-19.

Background: The values of viral load in COVID-19 disease have gained relevance, seeking to understand its prognostic value and its behavior in the course of the disease, although there have been no conclusive results. In this study we sought to analyze serum viral load as a predictor of clinical outcome of the disease, as well as its association with inflammatory markers. Methods: An observational and retrospective study in a private hospital in North Mexico, patients with SARS-COV-2 infection confirmed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were followed through clinical outcome, viral load measurement, quantification of inflammatory markers and lymphocyte subpopulations. For the analysis, multiple regression models were performed. Results: We studied 105 patients [47 (SD 1.46) years old, 68.6% men]. After analysis with multiple regression models, there was an association between viral load at admission and vaccination schedule (ß-value=-0.279, p= 0.007), age (ß-value= 0.010, p = 0.050), mechanical ventilation (ß-value= 0.872, p = 0.007), lactate dehydrogenase (ß-value= 1.712, p= 0.004), D-dimer values at admission (ß-value= 0.847, p= 0.013) and subpopulation of B lymphocytes at admission (ß-value= -0.527, p= 0.042). There was no association with days of hospitalization, use of nasal prongs or high flux mask. Peak viral load (10 days after symptoms onset) was associated with peak IL-6 (ß-value= 0.470, p= 0.011). Peak viral load matched with peak procalcitonin and minimal lymphocyte values. C-reactive protein peak was before the peak of viral load. The minimum value viral load was documented on day 12 after symptom onset; it matched with the minimum values of IL-6 and ferritin, and the peak of D-dimer. Conclusions: SARS-COV-2 admission viral load is associated with vaccination status, mechanical ventilation, and different inflammatory markers.

Diagnostic utility of the electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy criteria in specific populations.

BACKGROUND: Several electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria have been validated for the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH); the majority in Caucasian subjects from Europe and North America. Diagnostic utility of ECG criteria to detect LVH has never been established in our population; nonetheless they are frequently used. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic utility of different LVH ECG criteria in a Northern Mexican population and to determine the effect of gender, age, body mass index (BMI), hypertension and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) on their performance. METHODS: We conducted an observational, case-control study in patients divided according to the presence of LVH in an echocardiogram (Echo). We calculated the accuracy, sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 22 ECG criteria. RESULTS: Four hundred thirty-two patients were studied (202 had LVH). The Dalfó criterion (ECG18. SV3 + RaVL) had the best diagnostic performance with a Se of 56%, Sp of 71.3%, PPV 62.9%, NPV 65% and a diagnostic accuracy (95%CI) of 64.1% (59.5-68.6). This criterion had the highest accuracy in both genders, in all BMI, in older patients (>60 years) and in those with positive Echo ischaemic heart disease (IHD); it also performed well in patients with history of IHD and in hypertensive patients. VDP Cornell had the best accuracy in patients less than 60 years old, and in patients with non-ischaemic findings by Echo. CONCLUSIONS: The Dalfó criteria had the overall best accuracy in the detection of LVH, and specific populations.

[Pinch-off syndrome. Case report and review of the literature]. / Síndrome de pinch off. Descripción de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Central venous catheterization is a common procedure in the emergency and intensive-care units. Rupture of the central catheter has been described as a rare complication in patients with permanent subclavian catheters. We report the case of a patient with rupture and central catheter and embolization secondary to intermittent mechanical compression by the subclavian and the first rib (pinch-off syndrome) and its resolution through a percutaneous device.