Coronavirus Disease 2019 Suspicion: A Case Report Regarding a Male Emergency Medical Service Pilot With Newly Diagnosed Sarcoidosis

Incidence, management and prognosis of new-onset sarcoidosis post COVID-19 infection

BACKGROUND AND AIM

SARS-CoV-2 infection has been linked to hyperinflammation in multiple organs with a potential mechanistic link with resulting autoimmunity. There have been reports of many inflammatory complications following COVID-19, including sarcoidosis. A literature review on new-onset sarcoidosis following COVID-19 is lacking. We evaluated potential associations between COVID-19 and development of new-onset sarcoidosis.

METHODS

Articles discussing biopsy-proven sarcoidosis after confirmed COVID-19 infection, published 1956 until April 2023, were included. All article types were deemed eligible except opinion and review articles.

RESULTS

A pooled total of 15 patients with new-onset diagnosis of sarcoidosis after COVID-19 infection were included, 45.5% female, mean age 46.1 years (standard deviation 14.7) at onset of sarcoidosis. Patients were from: Europe (n=11); North America (n=2); South America (n=1); Asia (n=1). The mean time between COVID-19 infection and diagnosis of sarcoidosis was 56.3 days, although this ranged from 10 to 140 days. Organ systems predominantly affected by sarcoidosis were: pulmonary (n=11); cutaneous (n=3); cardiac (n=2); ocular (n=1); systemic (n=1) (with overlapping features in certain patients). Sarcoidosis was treated as follows: glucocorticoids (n=8); azathioprine (n=1); cardiac re-synchronisation therapy (n=1); heart transplant (n=1). All patients were reported to have survived, with one requiring intensive care admission.

CONCLUSIONS

Our result suggests there is a potential link between COVID-19 and new-onset sarcoidosis. The potential mechanism for this is through cytokine mediated immune modulation in COVID-19 infection. Obtaining a tissue sample remains key in confirming the diagnosis of sarcoidosis and this may be delayed during active COVID-19 infection.

New-Onset Transient Global Amnesia: A Clinical Challenge in an Air Medical Transportation Pilot With a History of Coronavirus Disease 2019

A 43-year-old male Bell 214C helicopter pilot presented to the emergency ward with flu-like syndrome. His nasopharyngeal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 real-time polymerase chain reaction test was positive, and a chest computed tomographic scan confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia. He was admitted, received treatment, was discharged, and returned to flying. During the mission debrief, copilots who had flown with him reported that he experienced episodes of in-flight dizziness and blacked out. They occurred briefly during the cruise and hovering flight, perhaps for a few seconds of disorientation and unconsciousness. Rapid identification of the copilot and control of the helicopter prevented any incident or accident. Afterward, he explained the sudden onset and unexpected brief periods of loss of consciousness after a headache. The flight safety office referred him to the aviation medical center for further investigations. The cardiovascular, neurologic, laboratory, and toxicologic assessments were inconclusive with the approach to sudden-onset transient loss of consciousness. The only abnormal finding was hippocampus lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Because of the possible diagnosis of transient global amnesia, the aviation medical examiner suspended him from flight duties until complete recovery and the absence of any probable complications.

Intracranial Hypertension and Papilledema: An Unusual Complication After the Adenoviral DNA Vector-Based Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination in an Air Medical Transportation Pilot

A 32-year-old male, Mil Mi-17 (air medical transport) helicopter pilot presented to the emergency department with a headache and visual blurring 12 days after the first dose of the Sputnik V vaccine. He had no past medical history; he successfully passed his last annual medical examination, and his vital signs were in the normal range. The significant findings were decreased visual acuity, papilledema, severe visual field narrowing, and increased nerve fiber layer thickness in both eyes. The aviation medical examiner suspended him from flight duties and referred him for a complete neuro-ophthalmic investigation. The patient underwent a lumbar puncture; his cerebrospinal fluid pressure was 39 cm H₂O, and his cerebrospinal fluid biochemical analysis and blood tests were normal. He refused ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery and received methylprednisolone with acetazolamide. After 10 days, the patient reported a significant improvement. One month later, his visual acuity and visual field were better, papilledema resolved, and disc pallor appeared. Three months later, he needed no medical treatment; he had normal visual acuity and near-normal visual fields. Based on the aviation medical regulations and the importance of flight safety in air medical transportation operations, he cannot return to flight duties until full neuro-ophthalmic recovery is confirmed.

Myocardial Contusion: A Case of Fatal Cardiac Dysrhythmias During Air Medical Transportation

A 34-year-old male worker suffered from blunt chest trauma after falling from a height of about 10 m. The initial assessment of the emergency physician (EP) indicated that he was confused but recalled the event and had a midthoracic superficial laceration, ecchymosis, tenderness, and severe substernal pain. Because of the urgent need for advanced medical management in a trauma center, the EP coordinated with the nearest trauma center and the air medical crew (AMC) for his evacuation. Blood pressure of 100/55 mm Hg, heart rate of 128 beats/min, respiratory rate of 24 breaths/min, pulse oximetry of 91%, and a capillary refill time of about 2 seconds were the bedside AMC findings. Despite the adverse weather conditions and darkness, the AMC performed the following preflight assessments and preparations for the patient: neck and body fixation, 2 saline locks, intravenous hydration, ketorolac 30 mg intravenously, oxygen mask, a 12-lead electrocardiogram with cardiac monitoring, and echocardiography. During the evacuation, the patient decompensated further from sudden cardiac dysrhythmias, hypotension, loss of consciousness, and apnea. However, despite the difficult and unusual in-flight conditions, the EP performed 30 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which was unsuccessful. The forensic report indicated that the fatal cardiac dysrhythmias due to myocardial contusion were a possible cause of death.

A review of the presentation and outcome of sarcoidosis in coronavirus disease 2019

BACKGROUND

In the setting of the current pandemic, concerns have arisen regarding the multisystemic involvement of sarcoidosis and the possible exacerbations in response to the exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

AIM

This study aims to compare the differences in clinical presentation, management, and outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between patients with sarcoidosis and those in the general population.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted by reviewing original research articles such as case reports, case series, observational studies, and questionnaire-based surveys published in PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and Google scholar. Data from individual patients in case series and case reports have been pooled to create a data set that was compared with larger such cohorts obtained from several other observational studies.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven patients were identified from 14 original articles. No significant differences were found in the clinical manifestations of patients with sarcoidosis presenting with COVID-19 as compared to the general population. The rate of hospitalization in our study was found to be 48.1%. The overall mortality in our study was 7.4%, which is higher than the global average of 2.1%.

CONCLUSION

Our observations have reinforced the hypothesis that the presence of additional medical comorbidities is associated with a higher risk of intensive care unit admission. Furthermore, the presence of moderate to a severe limitation in pulmonary functions is an additional risk factor associated with increased hospital admissions and mortality in sarcoidosis. However, neither the diagnosis of sarcoidosis nor ongoing treatment with steroids, methotrexate, or other immunosuppressants was associated with a poorer prognosis in patients with sarcoidosis.

RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS

Patients with sarcoidosis must take added precautions to mitigate the risk of acquiring COVID-19 infection in view of the COVID-19-related mortality rate in this group of patients. Specifically, immunocompromised patients (on immunomodulator drugs and high dose steroids) have been found to have an increased risk of contracting COVID-19. Overall impact on prognostication and outcome in cases requiring hospitalization remains yet to be determined.

Acute Cardiac Tamponade: A Case of Life-Threatening Coronavirus Disease 2019 Complication During Air Medical Transportation

A 42-year-old man with coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia was admitted to a small town hospital that did not have intensive care unit (ICU)-level resources available. Twelve hours later, the patient suddenly became agitated, and an extensive anterolateral ST-elevation myocardial infarction was detected by 12-lead electrocardiography and supported by a rise in serum cardiac enzymes. Low blood oxygen saturation (59%) and cardiac ejection fraction (ejection fraction = 20%) reflected criticality that could potentially require a catheterization laboratory, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and ICU-level resources. After the coordination of physicians with the nearest equipped hospital and air medical crew, a Mil Mi-17 medical helicopter unit was dispatched. About 20 minutes before reaching the destination hospital, his clinical condition declined; his heart was 50 beats/min, his blood pressure was 75/40 mm Hg, and he had jugular vein distention. Muffled heart sounds, decreased electrocardiographic voltage, and the accumulation of pericardial effusion on a bedside ultrasound indicated cardiac tamponade. The air medical crew resuscitated the patient through the interventions of intubation, mechanical ventilation, administration of intravenous fluids, and initiation of an epinephrine infusion. Ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis was performed in the helicopter, which kept him alive until pericardotomy could be performed at the destination hospital. Unfortunately, after pericardiotomy and coronary artery bypass graft surgery, the patient died 7 days later in the ICU due to severe cardiopulmonary failure.