Transitions of blood immune endotypes and improved outcome by anakinra in COVID-19 pneumonia: an analysis of the SAVE-MORE randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Endotype classification may guide immunomodulatory management of patients with bacterial and viral sepsis. We aimed to identify immune endotypes and transitions associated with response to anakinra (human interleukin 1 receptor antagonist) in participants in the SAVE-MORE trial.

METHODS

Adult patients hospitalized with radiological findings of PCR-confirmed severe pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 and plasma-soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor levels of ≥ 6 ng/ml in the SAVE-MORE trial (NCT04680949) were characterized at baseline and days 4 and 7 of treatment using a previously defined 33-messenger RNA classifier to assign an immunological endotype in blood. Endpoints were changes in endotypes and progression to severe respiratory failure (SRF) associated with anakinra treatment.

RESULTS

At baseline, 23.2% of 393 patients were designated as inflammopathic, 41.1% as adaptive, and 35.7% as coagulopathic. Only 23.9% were designated as the same endotype at days 4 and 7 compared to baseline, while all other patients transitioned between endotypes. Anakinra-treated patients were more likely to remain in the adaptive endotype during 7-day treatment (24.4% vs. 9.9%; p < 0.001). Anakinra also protected patients with coagulopathic endotype at day 7 against SRF compared to placebo (27.8% vs. 55.9%; p = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

We identify an association between endotypes defined using blood transcriptome and anakinra therapy for COVID-19 pneumonia, with anakinra-treated patients shifting toward endotypes associated with a better outcome, mainly the adaptive endotype. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04680949, December 23, 2020.

Vitamin D Levels as a Marker of Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection

The SARS-CoV-2 virus may cause severe infection, which is associated with diverse clinical manifestations. Vitamin D has immunomodulating properties and may enhance the body's defense system against invading pathogenic organisms. The aim was to assess 25(OH)D3 levels in patients hospitalized for severe infection from the SARS-CoV-2 virus and explore the relationship between 25(OH)D3 and outcomes. In a group of 88 patients hospitalized for severe infection from the SARS-CoV-2 virus and a control group matched for age and sex, the levels of 25(OH)D3 were analyzed. Levels of 25(OH)D3 were 17.36 ± 8.80 ng/mL (mean ± SD) compared with 24.34 ± 10.34 ng/mL in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and the control group, respectively, p < 0.001 (Student's t-test). 25(OH)D3 levels were significantly related to outcomes, i.e., survival as opposed to non-survival, as more patients with 25(OH)D3 deficiency (0-10 ng/mL) and insufficiency (10-20 ng/mL) had a fatal outcome as compared with those with vitamin D sufficiency (p < 0.001, chi-square test, p < 0.001, Fisher's exact test). Levels of 25(OH)D3 were inversely related to C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, d-dimer, and fibrinogen levels (p < 0.001, linear regression analysis, beta coefficient of variation, -0.176, -0.160, -0.178, and -0.158, respectively). Vitamin D deficiency observed in severe SARS-CoV-2 infection was related to disease outcomes.

Telecommunication and neuropsychiatric symptoms in long term care dementia patients during the COVID-19 lockdown ERA

Introduction

Ippokrateio Therapeutirio in the city of Larissa, Thessaly, Greece is a private for-profit psychogeriatric hospital focusing on Long Term Care on patients with dementia. During the COVID-19 era lockdown visits by carers/relatives/friends were forbidden due to the preventive government measures. At that same time appearance and/or exaggeration of neuropsychiatric symptoms was observed. In order to restore communication issues we performed telecommunication sessions (videocalls) and measured, among other factors, neuropsychiatric symptoms before and after sessions.

Objectives

Primary objective was to check for relations between video-calls and changes in neuropsychiatric symptoms using NeuroPsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Secondary objective was to check for carers and patients satisfaction, mainly through qualitative information.

Methods

120 patients with diagnosis of minor or major neuroconitive disorder of any type participated in the video call sessions. Two video calls per patient took place (1 per week) with a 10-inches tablet. Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) was performed before the start of the video-calls. NPI had been performed again the week after both sessions were completed. Satisfaction of carers and patients was recorded, mostly as qualitative data.

Results

Neuropsychiatric symptoms improved in patients with mild or moderate neurocognitive decline. In more severe cases though anxiety, irritability and sleep problems worsened. Satisfaction reached almost 95% of the carers.

Conclusions

Video calls could be a very good way to surpass the communication burden during the pandemic restrictions for LTC dementia patients. Caution should be given to severely demented patients since clinical observations show that a cluster of symptoms worsens.

Real world experience from 1000 patients. Preprocedural DOAC interruption impacts detectable DOAC serum levels but not adverse events after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation

Introduction

Direct oral anticoagulation (DOAC) therapy represents the standard of care in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and increased stroke risk. In a real world setting withholding DOAC medication before elective AF ablation is considered to reduce procedural bleeding risks. The aim of this study was to determine the individual DOAC level prior to the ablation procedure, to identify predisposing factors affecting traceable DOAC levels and to screen for associated severe adverse events.

Methods

Between September 2016 and March 2019 blood samples were obtained from patients on DOAC before an elective AF ablation. Per institutional standard all patients have been instructed to pause DOAC medication prior ablation for one or two doses depending on the patient profile and type of medication. The time interval between ablation and last DOAC intake was calculated in hours. Patient characteristics, procedural data and in-hospital complications were noted from all patients.

Results

A total of 1000 patients (60% male, age: 68y, GFR 83.25: BMI: 28, CHADSVASC score 3) undergoing AF ablation were included. Two groups were defined. Group A (n=416, 41.6%): patients treated with “single pill” DOAC (Rivaroxaban (n=288, 28.8%) and Edoxaban (n=128, 12.8%)). Group B (n=584, 58.4%): patients treated with twice a day DOAC (Apixaban (n=505, 50.5%) and Dabigatran (n=79, 7.9%)). The only difference in patient characteristics was an increased prior bleeding history in group B. The DOAC pause was significantly longer in group A (mean 40h) compared to group B (mean 32h), p=0.026. In a total of 217 patients (21.7%) DOAC levels where traceable prior to AF ablation. Traceable DOAC levels were significantly more common in group B (n=144/584, 24.7%) compared to group A (n=73/416, 17.5%). Adverse events occurred in 5.7% of patients (0.4% stroke, 0.3% tamponade, 2.5% hematoma, 1.9% AV-fistel, 0.7% pseudoaneurysma). T-Test analysis showed no significant difference in the occurrence of adverse events between both groups.

Conclusion

Despite of interrupting DOACs before an elective AF ablation therapeutic substance levels can be detected in &gt;20% of patients. The rate of adverse events was not different between “single pill” vs. twice a day DOAC intake.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Holter ECG diagnosis of nicotine-spray induced ventricular fibrillation. An unusual case of Prinzmetal variant angina

We report on an interesting case of resuscitated sudden cardiac death (SDC) in a 51-year-old with hypertension and positive family history for SDC. The patient was resuscitated and an emergency angiogram ruled out coronary artery disease. Cardio-MRT ruled structural disease or infection. Holter and telemetry monitoring revealed premature ventricular complexes and transient ST-changes followed by anginaepisodes in correlation with the use of the nicotine-replacement-spray. The patient was urged to quit smoking and smoking-substitutes. Medical therapy with calcium-channelblocker and a long acting nitrate was administered. One-month follow up reported no arrhythmic or angina events.

Old age mental health services in Southern Balkans: Features, geospatial distribution, current needs, and future perspectives

BACKGROUND

Healthcare services are increasingly confronted with challenges related to old age mental disorders. The survey aimed to provide an overview of existing psychogeriatric services in Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, and North Macedonia.

METHODS

After identification of psychogeriatric units across the four countries, their head physicians were asked to provide data on their clinical, teaching, and research activity, as well as staff composition. Moreover, the attitudes of head physicians to current needs and future service development were explored.

RESULTS

A total of 15 psychogeriatric units were identified (3 in Bulgaria, 8 in Greece, and 4 in North Macedonia). Results show wide variation regarding the location, team size and composition, service availability, numbers of patients attending, and inpatient treatment length. Most head physicians underscored the urgent need for breakthroughs in the graduate and postgraduate education in psychogeriatrics of medical and nonmedical professionals, as well as in the interconnection of their units with community primary healthcare services and long-term care facilities for seniors via telemedicine. They would welcome the development of national standards for psychogeriatric units, potentially embodying clear pointers for action. A number of head physicians advocated the development of nationwide old age mental health registries.

CONCLUSIONS

Regional disparities in resources and services for seniors' mental health services were unveiled. These data may enrich the dialogue on optimizing psychogeriatric services through planning future cross-border collaborations mainly based on telemedicine services, especially in the era of the novel coronavirus pandemic, and training/education in psychogeriatrics of mental health professionals.

Effective treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in hemodialysis patients by titration of intravenous calcitriol dosage

AIM

Effective treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPTH) with intravenous (i.v.) administration of calcitriol in hemodialysis patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The current study evaluates the use of i.v. calcitriol dosing in relation to the severity of the HPTH in 35 hemodialysis patients with serum phosphate < 6.5 mg/dl. Arbitrarily, patients with plasma IPTH levels (intact PTH) between 288 and 576 pg/ml (288 pg/ml = four-fold the upper normal limit) were given initially 1 microg i.v. calcitriol at the end of each dialysis (group A, n = 15). Patients with IPTH between 577 and 864 pg/ml received 2 microg i.v. calcitriol (group B, n = 10) and patients with IPTH more than 865 pg/ml were given 3 - 4 microg i.v. calcitriol (group C, n = 10). As IPTH levels decreased, the dose of i.v. calcitriol was also decreased gradually. Patients were followed-up for 4 months after the end of calcitriol treatment.

RESULTS

During the i.v. calcitriol treatment period, the observed plasma IPTH concentrations compared with the baseline values were significantly lower (p < 0.01 for A and B group and p < 0.05 for C group) from the sixth month onwards in group A and C and from the third month onwards in group B. At the 12th month of follow-up, all patients being off i.v. calcitriol treatment for four months, a sharp and significant increase (p < 0.01 for group A and B and p < 0.05 for group C) of plasma IPTH was recorded in all three groups of patients. Alkaline phosphatase was also gradually decreased in all studied groups. Serum Ca and P remained unchanged in most patients.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the study presented here demonstrates that the titration of i.v. calcitriol dosage according to the severity of HPTH is an effective and safe treatment of HPTH in chronic hemodialysis patients. It also shows that parathyroidectomy could be avoided in the majority of patients with severe HPTH, if an appropriate dose of calcitriol not aggravating hyperphosphatemia is administered.