Renal tubular dysfunction in COVID-19 patients.

INTRODUCTION: SARS-CoV-2 infection can affect other organs aside from those of respiratory system, particularly the kidney, heart, blood, digestive tract, and nervous system. COVID-19 renal compromise consists of different syndromes since proteinuria, hematuria, and acute kidney injury (AKI), until chronic kidney disease. Since COVID-19-induced renal tubular damage has been described as a potential antecedent condition to AKI installation, it was decided to evaluate how COVID-19 affects tubular function. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Serum inflammatory parameters, urinalysis, and classical urinary indexes in COVID-19 admitted patients who had neither AKI nor chronic kidney disease (CKD) were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed by applying Student t test. RESULTS: Renal tubular function was evaluated in 41 COVID-19 admitted patients who had neither AKI nor CKD. Patients' mean age was 56 years, males (79%), and with normal creatininemia (0.8 ± 0.2 mg/dL) and eGFR (105.7 ± 6.5 mL/min) values. It was found mild hypocalcemia and a relative increased fractional excretion (FE) of sodium, FE of calcium, FE of phosphorus, calcium-creatinine index, urinary osmolarity, and relative alkaline urine pH values. CONCLUSION: Tubular dysfunction was documented in COVID-19 patients.

Differences between COVID-19-induced acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease patients / Diferenças entre pacientes com lesão renal aguda induzida por COVID-19 e pacientes com doença renal crônica

Abstract Introduction: This article describes the main differences between COVID-19-induced acute kidney injury (AKI-COVID19) in patients with previous normal renal function (AKI-NRF) and those with chronic kidney disease (AKI-CKD) treated in a high complexity clinic in Barranquilla (Colombia). Material and Methods: The patients included in this study (n: 572) were those with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 confirmed by detection of a positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Of these patients, 188 developed AKI during their hospital stay. Patients' epidemiological data, serum parameters, and clinical frailty status were recorded. Statistical analysis and comparison among AKI-NRF, AKI-CKD, and non-AKI patients were performed. Results: The incidence of COVID-19-induced AKI was 33%, with the majority classified as AKIN 1, 16% requiring renal replacement therapy, and AKI-COVID19 mortality of 68%. A significantly higher prevalence of hypertension, cardiac disease, and serum reactive C-protein and lower albumin values in AKI-CKD patients was recorded. Mortality rate, invasive ventilation requirement, and D-dimer levels were significantly higher in AKI-NRF patients: Conclusion: Different clinical patterns between AKI-NRF and AKI-CKD were documented.

Resumo Introdução: Este artigo descreve as principais diferenças entre a lesão renal aguda induzida por COVID-19 (LRA-COVID19) em pacientes com função renal normal prévia (LRA-FRN) e aqueles com doença renal crônica (LRA-DRC) atendidos em uma clínica de alta complexidade em Barranquilla (Colômbia). Material e Métodos: Os pacientes incluídos neste estudo (n: 572) foram aqueles com um diagnóstico positivo de COVID-19 confirmado pela detecção de PCR positivo para SARS-CoV-2. Destes pacientes, 188 desenvolveram LRA durante sua internação. Foram registrados os dados epidemiológicos, os parâmetros séricos e o estado de fragilidade clínica dos pacientes. Foram feitas a análise estatística e a comparação entre pacientes com LRA-FRN, LRA-DRC, e pacientes sem LRA. Resultados: A incidência de LRA induzida por COVID-19 foi de 33%, com a maioria classificada como AKIN 1, 16% exigindo terapia renal substitutiva, e a mortalidade por LRA-COVID19 foi de 68%. Foi registrada uma prevalência significativamente mais alta de hipertensão, doença cardíaca e proteína C reativa sérica e valores mais baixos de albumina em pacientes com LRA-DRC. A taxa de mortalidade, a necessidade de ventilação invasiva e os níveis de dímero-D foram significativamente mais altos em pacientes com LRA-FRN. Conclusão: Foram documentados padrões clínicos diferentes entre LRA-FRN e LRA-DRC.

Differences between COVID-19-induced acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease patients.

INTRODUCTION: This article describes the main differences between COVID-19-induced acute kidney injury (AKI-COVID19) in patients with previous normal renal function (AKI-NRF) and those with chronic kidney disease (AKI-CKD) treated in a high complexity clinic in Barranquilla (Colombia). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patients included in this study (n: 572) were those with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 confirmed by detection of a positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Of these patients, 188 developed AKI during their hospital stay. Patients' epidemiological data, serum parameters, and clinical frailty status were recorded. Statistical analysis and comparison among AKI-NRF, AKI-CKD, and non-AKI patients were performed. RESULTS: The incidence of COVID-19-induced AKI was 33%, with the majority classified as AKIN 1, 16% requiring renal replacement therapy, and AKI-COVID19 mortality of 68%. A significantly higher prevalence of hypertension, cardiac disease, and serum reactive C-protein and lower albumin values in AKI-CKD patients was recorded. Mortality rate, invasive ventilation requirement, and D-dimer levels were significantly higher in AKI-NRF patients. CONCLUSION: Different clinical patterns between AKI-NRF and AKI-CKD were documented.

Impact of frailty and viral load on acute kidney injury evolution in patients affected by Coronavirus Disease 2019.

This paper describes the main characteristics of coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) patients suffering from acute kidney injury (AKI) assisted at a high complexity clinic in Barranquilla, Colombia. The patients included in this study (n = 48) were those with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 confirmed by polymerase chain reaction detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, who had developed AKI during their hospital stay. Serum and urine parameters, as well as patient's viral load and clinical frailty scale (CFS) were recorded. A statistical analysis of the recorded parameters, such as comparisons, and correlations between variables of interest, were explored. The prevalence of COVID-19 induced AKI was 41%, being the majority of them classified as AKI network classification 3, with a renal replacement therapy requirement of 29%, and an associated mortality of 73%. AKI patients' mortality showed a significant positive correlation (33%) with patients' CFS score but not with their viral load. COVID-19 induced AKI significantly correlated with patients' frailty status but not to their viral load.

Enfermedad renal crónica y COVID-19: la importancia de la hidratación / Chronic kidney disease and COVID-19: the importance of hydration

Resumen Como es bien sabido, desde el mes de diciembre se encendieron las alarmas por la aparición de la enfermedad COVID-19 (Coronavirus 2019) en China, la cual es causada por el virus SARS-CoV-2 y se ha expandido a nivel mundial. Entre los síntomas frecuentes encontramos fiebre, fatiga, mialgias, tos seca, anorexia, disnea y producción de esputo y síntomas menos comunes como cefalea, odinofagia, rinorrea y otra sintomatología diferente a la respiratoria, como síntomas gastrointestinales dados por náuseas y diarrea. La proteinuria en cualquier grado, la hematuria de cualquier grado, el aumento de la elevación de la creatinina en pacientes con creatinina basal elevada y la generación de AKI 2 y 3 son los directamente relacionados con la mortalidad intrahospitalaria desde el punto de vista renal, lo que hace que debamos estudiar más aun la enfermedad renal crónica, para poder tomar las medidas necesaria de prevención. En cuanto a la hidratación, se considera, por lo tanto, que si el paciente presenta buena diuresis, los 2 litros de excreción serían necesarios para eliminar los solutos no necesarios del cuerpo, considerando que esta cantidad se logra sumando también las pérdidas extrarrenales; entonces, si el paciente mantiene una función urinaria adecuada a pesar de su grado de insuficiencia renal, una ingesta de líquidos entre 2,5 y 3,5 litros logra las metas. Los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica deben tomar las medidas de prevención, aún más por ser población de riesgo, recordando por lo tanto algunas, las cuales son la mejor estrategia para evitar la transmisión viral: lavado frecuente de manos, distanciamiento social, evitar contacto con personas infectadas o con sospecha de infección por el virus SARS-CoV-2, usar tapabocas, mantener higiene en su domicilio, lavar superficies o limpiarlas con sustancias a base de alcohol, y algo que no se puede olvidar: estamos aprendiendo del virus, y debemos mantenernos informados del comportamiento del mismo y de los cambios que este pueda generar en la población y en el comportamiento de la enfermedad, para así mismo tomar las medidas.

Abstract As is well known since December, alarms went off for the appearance of the COVID-19 disease (Coronavirus 2019) in China, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and has spread worldwide. Frequent symptoms include fever, fatigue, myalgia, dry cough, anorexia, dyspnea and sputum production, and less common symptoms such as headache, odynophagia, rhinorrhea, and other symptoms other than breathing, such as gastrointestinal symptoms due to nausea and diarrhea. Proteinuria in any degree, hematuria of any degree, increased creatinine variation in a patient with elevated baseline creatinine, and the generation of AKI 2 and 3 are those directly related to in-hospital mortality from the renal point of view, which means that we must study chronic kidney disease even more, in order to take the necessary preventive measures. Regarding hydration, it is considered, therefore, that if the patient presents good diuresis, the 2 liters of excretion would be necessary to eliminate the unnecessary solutes from the body, considering that this amount is achieved by also adding extrarenal losses. Therefore, if the patient maintains adequate urinary function despite his degree of kidney failure, a fluid intake of between 2.5 and 3.5 liters achieves the goals, also taking into account. Patients with chronic kidney disease should take preventive measures, even more so as they are a risk population, therefore remembering some, which are the best strategy to avoid viral transmission: frequent hand washing, social distancing, avoiding contact with people infected or suspected of infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, wearing face masks, maintaining hygiene at home, washing surfaces or cleaning them with alcohol-based substances and something that cannot be forgotten, remember that we are learning from the virus and that we must keep us informed of the behavior of the same and of the changes that it may generate in the population and in the behavior of the disease, so as to take the measures.

Reporte de cuatro casos COVID-19 hospitalizados en unidad de cuidados intensivos en una institución hospitalaria en Barranquilla, Colombia / Original article: Case-Serie of 4 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit in a hospital institution in Barranquilla, Colombia

Resumen Presentar una serie de casos de COVID-19 con requerimiento de ingreso a Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. La información fue tomada de las historias clínicas, y su evaluación y diagnóstico fue realizado mediante estudios paraclínicos en sangre, orina, PCR e imágenes diagnósticas en 4 pacientes con diferentes comorbilidades y nexo epidemiológico presente para desarrollo de la enfermedad. Los cuatro casos fueron manejados con cloroquina 300 mg vía oral, cada 12 horas, y azitromicina 1 gr vía oral, cada 24 horas, durante 5 días, sin complicaciones ni toxicidad asociada. El caso 1 desarrolló falla orgánica múltiple, incluyendo injuria renal aguda con una estancia en UCI de 4 días antes de su fallecimiento, mientras los casos 2, 3 y 4 tuvieron una evolución favorable y fueron dados de alta de UCI. Se requieren estudios multicéntricos rápidos que orienten científicamente hacia un mejor abordaje diagnóstico y manejo, en el contexto de una enfermedad con un comportamiento clínico-epidemiológico que debe estudiarse en profundidad y que probablemente cobrará muchas vidas; además, debido a la ausencia de pruebas diagnósticas rápidas, la utilización de una clasificación basada en la severidad de lesiones radiológicas llamada CO-RADS (Covid-19 Imaging Reporting and Data System) podría ser de gran importancia para instalar de manera temprana los tratamientos farmacológicos disponibles y la asistencia respiratoria mecánica precoz.

Abstract To present a COVID-19 case series with clinical admission criteria to Intensive Care Unit. Patients information was obtained from medical records, and daily clinical evaluation whereas diagnosis was carried out through paraclinical studies in blood, urine, PCR and diagnostic images in 4 patients with different comorbidities and epidemiological link for the development of COVID-19. All four cases were managed with chloroquine 300 mg orally every 12 hours and azithromycin orally every 24 hours for 5 days without complications or associated toxicity. The case 1 developed multiple organ failure, including acute kidney injury with an ICU stay of 4 days before his death, while cases 2, 3 and 4 had a favorable evolution and were discharged from the ICU. Rapid multicenter studies are required to scientifically guide a better diagnostic and management approach, in the context of a disease with a clinical-epidemiological behavior that must be studied in depth and will probably take many lives. In addition, due to the absence of sufficiently rapid tests, the use of a classification based on the severity of radiological lesions called CO-RADS (Covid-19 Imaging Reporting and Data System) could be of great importance to install available pharmacological treatments early and early mechanical respiratory support.

A Dengue Vaccine: Will It be Accepted and Is It Feasible? Lessons from Barranquilla, Colombia, and Merida, Venezuela.

With one vaccine on the market and others in clinical trials, policy makers in dengue endemic regions face the decision of whether to introduce a dengue vaccine in their communities. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that individualized assessments be conducted before any vaccine introduction to evaluate disease burden and the strength of current vaccination programs. This study seeks to aid in that decision-making process by examining the acceptability and feasibility of dengue vaccine introduction in Barranquilla, Colombia, and Merida, Venezuela. Surveys were administered February-June of 2018 for three groups: patients (n = 351), health professionals (n = 197), and government officials (n = 26). In Barranquilla, most respondents reported dengue to be a moderate-severe problem, that a dengue vaccine would be useful in their communities, and that their current vaccination programs could handle the addition of a new vaccine. In Venezuela, respondents were less likely to view dengue as a major concern and listed multiple barriers to not just dengue vaccine introduction, but to providing current vaccines as well. Further work is needed in Colombia to more objectively assess the country's readiness as a whole for a future dengue vaccine. As political and social unrest continues in Venezuela, however, future initiatives should focus on trust and capacity building. This study can serve as a framework for future assessments of the acceptability and feasibility of a dengue vaccine in both targeted areas and on larger scales.