ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND AIM: Persistent interstitial lung disease (ILD) after COVID-19 infection can lead to severe loss of respiratory function and a decrease in the quality of life. There is no consensus regarding the treatment of post-COVID-19-ILD. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of immunosuppressive treatment for this group of patients. METHODS: This retrospective observational study included patients diagnosed with post-COVID-19-ILD from 2021 to 2022. Patients who had pulmonary symptoms, required prolonged oxygen therapy, and/or had restrictive pulmonary function test (PFT) and/or DLCO <80%, with diffuse parenchymal involvement on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), were given immunosuppressive treatment with methylprednisolone and/or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and followed up for 6 months. RESULTS: Among the 48 patients, 35 were treated. Two patients were excluded due to discontinued treatment and passed away before the study period ended. Of 33 cases, 21 (66.6%) were treated with methylprednisolone, 11 (33%) with methylprednisolone + MMF, and 1 (0.4%) with MMF alone. Comparing baseline and 6th-month data revealed significant improvement in mMRC score, saturation (SpO2), FVC, FVC%, FEV%, and DLCO% values (p<0.005). While regression was observed in all radiologic findings, regression in ground glass and reticulation was statistically significant (p<0.005). When the 1st and 6th-month data were compared, a significant increase was observed in SpO2 and DLCO% values (p=0.016) and there was a significant regression in reticulation radiologically (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term immunosuppressive therapy may be preferred in proper cases of post-COVID-19-ILD as an effective and safe treatment option that improves the quality of life, respiratory parameters, and radiologic findings.
ABSTRACT
Severe aplastic anemia is almost always fatal unless treated. Invasive fungal infections, particularly those caused by Aspergillus species, have long been recognized as a major cause of death in severe aplastic anemia. However, there are few specific reports about infections and their therapy in patients with aplastic anemia. Despite improvements in the last few years, the response rate of new antifungal drugs, such as voriconazole and liposomal amphotericin B, has only about a 30% recovery rate in patients with severe neutropenia and persistent fever. There is a paucity of data available about hematopoietic stem cell transplant under active invasive fungal infection in the literature. Therefore, we aimed to discuss the treatment scenarios for 2 severe aplastic anemia patients who have invasive fungal infections.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of burn injury on bone metabolism and bone densitometry in the early period. Twenty-one patients with >25% total body surface area (TBSA) burns and 20 healthy controls participated. TBSA burned, ambulation, and functional status were recorded. After 30 days, we measured bone mineral densities of the L1-L4 vertebrae, the left distal forearm, and the left proximal femur in the patients. At 1 and 4 weeks after the burn, changes in bone turnover were assessed in patients by changes in deoxypyridinoline levels in the urine and osteocalcin in the serum and compared with the values of control group. In patients, Z-scores < -1 were found in 71.42% of left distal forearm, 23.80% of left proximal femur, and in 42.85% of L1-L4 vertebrae measurements. No significant correlations existed between Z-scores and TBSA, Functional Ambulation Scale, or Functional Independent Measure. When compared with controls, there was no statistically significant decrease of osteocalcin (a marker of bone formation) levels in patients 1 and 4 weeks after burn injury. However, when compared with controls, a statistically significant difference was found regarding deoxypyridinoline (a marker for bone resorption) in patients 1 and 4 weeks after burn injury (P < .001 and P < .001, respectively). Decreases in bone mineral density occurred during the first month following burn injury, which seemed to be linked with increases in bone resorption during this period. No correlation existed between reduction in bone mineral density and functional status.
