Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich Syndrome Complicated with Vesicovaginal Fistula: A Rare Case Report.

Herlyn-Werner-Wunderlich (HWW) syndrome is characterized by obstructed hemivagina and ipsilateral renal anomaly, a rare congenital anomaly of the genitourinary tract, resulting from malformations of the renal tract associated with Müllerian duct anomalies. The initial symptoms of HWW frequently present after menarche and may be nonspecific, leading to a delayed diagnosis. We presented a 19-year-old female with 3-year hematuria and abdominal pain. The final diagnosis of HWW syndrome with a rare vesicovaginal fistula was made. The treatment of HWW syndrome typically involves surgical intervention. The primary treatment is resection or removal of the obstructed vaginal septum. The patient underwent excision of vaginal septum and vaginal reconstruction via hysteroscopy, as well as repair of the vesicovaginal fistula. The patient improved well after surgery and fully recovered without sequelae after 3 months. In addition, unilateral renal agenesis is one of congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract, which are the most frequent cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children. This report describes a patient of HWW syndrome with rarely combined vesicovaginal fistula, and highlights the importance of early recognition and management to prevent associated complications.

The Role of Vitamin D in SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Acute Kidney Injury.

Vitamin D has been described as an essential nutrient and hormone, which can cause nuclear, non-genomic, and mitochondrial effects. Vitamin D not only controls the transcription of thousands of genes, directly or indirectly through the modulation of calcium fluxes, but it also influences the cell metabolism and maintenance specific nuclear programs. Given its broad spectrum of activity and multiple molecular targets, a deficiency of vitamin D can be involved in many pathologies. Vitamin D deficiency also influences mortality and multiple outcomes in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Active and native vitamin D serum levels are also decreased in critically ill patients and are associated with acute kidney injury (AKI) and in-hospital mortality. In addition to regulating calcium and phosphate homeostasis, vitamin D-related mechanisms regulate adaptive and innate immunity. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections have a role in excessive proinflammatory cell recruitment and cytokine release, which contribute to alveolar and full-body endothelial damage. AKI is one of the most common extrapulmonary manifestations of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). There are also some correlations between the vitamin D level and COVID-19 severity via several pathways. Proper vitamin D supplementation may be an attractive therapeutic strategy for AKI and has the benefits of low cost and low risk of toxicity and side effects.

Early Adventitial Activation and Proliferation in a Mouse Model of Arteriovenous Stenosis: Opportunities for Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis remains an important cause of AVF maturation failure, for which there are currently no effective therapies. We examined the pattern and phenotype of cellular proliferation at different timepoints in a mouse model characterized by a peri-anastomotic AVF stenosis. METHODS: Standard immunohistochemical analyses for cellular proliferation and macrophage infiltration were performed at 2, 7 and 14 d on our validated mouse model of AVF stenosis to study the temporal profile, geographical location and cellular phenotype of proliferating and infiltrating cells in this model. RESULTS: Adventitial proliferation and macrophage infiltration (into the adventitia) began at 2 d, peaked at 7 d and then declined over time. Surprisingly, there was minimal macrophage infiltration or proliferation in the neointimal region at either 7 or 14 d, although endothelial cell proliferation increased rapidly between 2 d and 7 d, and peaked at 14 d. CONCLUSIONS: Early and rapid macrophage infiltration and cellular proliferation within the adventitia could play an important role in the downstream pathways of both neointimal hyperplasia and inward or outward remodelling.

Impact of the use of anti-diabetic drugs on survival of diabetic dialysis patients: a 5-year retrospective cohort study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and associated complications are common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and can increase morbidity and mortality. A longitudinal 5-year observational study was conducted to investigate whether the use of anti-diabetic medications or not affected survival rates of diabetic dialysis patients. METHODS: Using a data sample of a million patients from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Database, a retrospective cohort study surveyed patients with type 2 DM who began dialysis between 2002 and 2007. The study population was classified into groups using or not using anti-diabetic drugs. The group using anti-diabetic drugs was then categorized into 3 subgroups, including use of only oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs), only insulin, and OHAs-combined insulin groups. Subjects of these four groups were followed 5 years or to date of death. Three major areas were analyzed: (1) demographic data and medical history; (2) survival prognosis and causes of death; and (3) effects on survival prognosis of different classes of OHAs. RESULTS: A total of 912 patients fitting inclusion criteria were enrolled and followed-up for 5 years or to date of death. A total 465 patients died, and those not using anti-diabetic drugs (67.34 %) had a higher mortality rate than those using anti-diabetic drugs (46.42 %). After the multivariate analysis, group of OHAs-combined insulin had the lowest risk of death (HR 0.36, 95 % CI 0.27-0.47), followed by OHAs alone (HR 0.49, 95 % CI 0.38-0.63) and then insulin alone (HR 0.67, 95 % CI 0.51-0.88). To clarify four classes of OHAs (sulfonylurea, α-glucosidase inhibitors, meglitinide, and thiazolidinedione) are used in Taiwan for uremia patient with type 2 DM, and in our study, there were no significant differences in survival prognosis for the four drugs. Finally, the most common cause of death was infectious disease and there were no significant differences among the four groups. CONCLUSION: This 5-year observational study results suggested that diabetic dialysis patients with anti-diabetic drugs had a lower risk of death compared with those without anti-diabetic drugs. Despite insulin therapy, appropriate OHAs should play an important role in treating these patients.

Syncope in a patient with minimal change disease without nephrotic-range proteinuria.

Introduction Pulmonary embolism is a potentially life-threatening complication of nephrotic syndrome. Syncope is rarely reported as an initial presentation of pulmonary embolism in nephrotic patients. Case presentation We describe a 35-year-old man who was taking steroids and diuretics for relapse of minimal change disease who presented after a syncopal event. The patient was hypotensive and had distended neck veins. The major laboratory findings were hypoalbuminemia with mild proteinuria. The findings on electrocardiography, chest radiography, and echocardiography and the elevated plasma D-dimer level raised suspicion of pulmonary embolism. Thrombi in the bilateral main pulmonary arteries on chest computed tomography together with compromised hemodynamics were consistent with the diagnosis of massive pulmonary embolism. He received anticoagulant treatment and the disease resolved. Conclusion Pulmonary embolism should be considered as a cause of syncope in patients with nephrotic syndrome, despite the absence of severe hypoalbuminemia and proteinuria, especially in patients taking concurrent steroid and diuretic therapy.

Comparison of short-term efficacy of iron sucrose with those of ferric chloride in hemodialysis patients: An open-label study.

BACKGROUND: It is intriguing and imperative that the comparison of the iron preparations in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This study aimed to observe the short-term efficacy of parenteral iron sucrose and ferric chloride in HD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a consecutive 10-week single-blind study in Taiwan. An intravenous iron supplement of 100 mg/week was administered as an infusion in 100 ml of normal saline, until a total dose of 1000 mg was achieved. The primary outcome was evaluated by the changes in serum hematocrit (Hct) levels. The changes in serum Hct and iron indices were evaluated every 2 weeks for 10 weeks. The results were collected from 21 April to 4 July 2013. RESULTS: A total of 56 HD patients completed the study. Subjects were randomized into an iron sucrose group (26 patients) and a ferric chloride group (30 patients). Between the two treatment groups, there were no statistically significant differences in the change in serum Hct, ferritin, iron, or total iron binding capacity (P > 0.05). In the iron sucrose group, the increase in Hct levels was statistically significant at weeks 4, 8, and 10. In the ferric chloride group, the increase in Hct levels was statistically significant at week 8. No obvious major side effects were observed in both groups. CONCLUSION: In the study subjects, parenteral iron sucrose was as effective and safe as ferric chloride for treating anemia in HD patients.

Rivaroxaban, a factor Xa inhibitor, improves neovascularization in the ischemic hindlimb of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

BACKGROUND: Factor Xa inhibitor is used for preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adult patients receiving orthopedic operation. However, the role of factor Xa inhibitor, rivaroxaban, in angiogenesis is still unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice with model of hind-limb ischemia, were divided into non-diabetic control, diabetic control, and low- and high-dose rivaroxaban treatment groups, in order to evaluate the effect of rivaroxaban in angiogenesis. Doppler perfusion imaging showed that blood flow recovery was significantly increased, and more capillary density occurred in the rivaroxaban treatment group. In vitro studies, human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) treated with rivaroxaban had significant functional improvement in migration and senescence under hyperglycemic conditions. Rivaroxaban also increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) as well as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expressions in hyperglycemia-stimulated EPCs. CONCLUSIONS: Rivaroxaban promoted vessel formation in diabetic mice and improved endothelial progenitor cell function under hyperglycemic conditions. These effects may be associated with enhancement of expression of eNOS and VEGF.

Proliferation patterns in a pig model of AV fistula stenosis: can we translate biology into novel therapies?

Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis remains an important cause of AVF maturation failure for which there are currently no effective therapies. To understand the mechanisms involved, we have examined the pattern of cellular proliferation at different time points in a pig model of AVF stenosis. Immunohistochemical analysis of cellular proliferation was performed at 2, 7, 28, and 42 days. The distribution of cellular proliferation within the different layers of the vessel wall was also studied. An ANOVA analysis was used to identify differences between the magnitude of cellular proliferation at different time points and within different layers of the vessel wall. Adventitial proliferation occurred at 2 days and declined over time. Intimal and medial proliferation peaked at 7 days and then decreased over time. There was minimal proliferation in all three layers at the 28- and 42-day time points. An important finding was the presence of active myofibroblast proliferation within "neointimal buds" at the 7-day time point. Results suggest that there could be early adventitial activation, followed by a passage of these cells into the medial and intimal layers. These suggest that the application of perivascular antiproliferative (adventitial) therapies at the time of surgery could potentially reduce AVF maturation failure.

Hypokalemic paralysis in a middle-aged female with classic Bartter syndrome.

Inherited classic Bartter syndrome (cBS) is an autosomal recessive renal tubular disorder resulting from inactivating mutations in the asolateral chloride channel (C1C-Kb) and usually presents in early infancy or childhood with mild to moderate hypokalemia. Profound hypokalemic paralysis in patients with cBS is extremely rare, especially in middle age. A 45-year-old Chinese female patient was referred for evaluation of chronic severe hypokalemia despite regular K+ supplementation (1 mmol/kg/d). She had had two episodes of muscle paralysis due to severe hypokalemia (K+ 1.9 - 2.1 mmol/l) in the past 3 years. She denied vomiting, diarrhea, or the use of laxatives or diuretics. Her blood pressure was normal. Biochemical studies showed hypokalemia (K+ 2.5 mmol/l) with renal potassium wasting, metabolic alkalosis (HCO3- 32 mmol/l), normomagnesemia (Mg2+ 0.8 mmol/l), hypercalciuria (calcium to creatinine ratio 0.5 mmol/mmol; normal < 0.22 mmol/mol), high plasma renin activity, but normal plasma aldosterone concentration. Abdominal sonography revealed neither renal stones nor nephrocalcinosis. Acquired causes of cBS such as autoimmune disease and drugs were all excluded. Molecular analysis of the CLCNKB gene, encoding ClC-Kb, and SLC12A3, encoding the thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC), revealed compound heterozygous mutations in CLCNKB (L335P and G470E) inherited from her parents; her SLC12A3 was normal. These two mutations were not identified in 100 healthy subjects. Her plasma K+ concentration rose to 3 - 3.5 mmol/l after the addition of spironolactone. Inherited cBS may present with hypokalemic paralysis and should be considered in adult patients with hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis.

Biomedical Evaluation of Early Chronic Kidney Disease in the Air Force: Building a Predictive Model from the Taiwan Military Health Service.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most common diseases worldwide. The increasing prevalence and incidence of CKD have contributed to the critical problem of high medical costs. Due to stressful environments, aircrew members may have a high risk of renal dysfunction. A better strategy to prevent CKD progression in Air Force personnel would be to diagnosis CKD at an early stage. Since few studies have been conducted in Taiwan to examine the long-term trends in early CKD in Air Force aircrew members, this study is highly important. We investigated the prevalence of CKD and established a predictive model of disease variation among aircrew members. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we included all subjects who had received physical examinations at a military hospital from 2004 to 2010 and who could be tracked for four years. The Abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Formula (aMDRD) was used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and was combined with the National Kidney Foundation/ Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (NKF-K/DOQI) to identify CKD patients. RESULTS: A total of 212 aircrew members were assessed. The results showed that the prevalence of CKD was 3.8%, 9.4%, 9.0%, and 9.4% in each of the four years. According to the logistic regression analysis, abnormal urobilinogen levels, ketones, and white blood cell (WBC) counts in urine and a positive urine occult blood test increased the risk of CKD. A positive urine occult blood test can be used to predict the future risk of CKD. Moreover, the generalized estimating equation (GEE) model showed that a greater risk of CKD with increased examination time, age and seniority had a negative effect. In conclusion, abnormal urobilinogen levels, ketones, and urine WBC counts in urine as well as a positive urine occult blood test might serve as independent predictors for CKD. CONCLUSION: In the future, we can focus not only on annual physical examinations but also on simple and accurate examinations, such as urine occult blood testing, to determine the risk of CKD and prevent its progression in our aircrew members.

Myopericarditis and exertional rhabdomyolysis following an influenza A (H3N2) infection.

BACKGROUND: Acute myopericarditis and exertional rhabdomyolysis, two uncommon but well-described diseases with potentially life-threatening effects, are generally considered as independent clinical entities. However, they may in fact be pathophysiologically related under certain circumstances. This is the first ever report of influenza myopericarditis provoked by exertional rhabdomyolysis to the best of our knowledge. CASE PRESENTATION: A 25-year-old immunocompetent Chinese man presented with bilateral leg pain, dizziness, and shortness of breath on admission soon after completing vigorous training comprising running drills. Exertional rhabdomyolysis was diagnosed with 44 fold high serum creatine phosphokinase. Then he developed chest pain, pericardial effusion, changes of electrocardiography and positive troponin I suggestive of myopericarditis. Influenza A (H3N2) virus infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction analysis of nasopharyngeal wash samples. Other possible infective and autoimmune causes were excluded. Patient recovered completely with anti-inflammatory therapy and the supportive care. CONCLUSION: This case suggests that clinicians who treat patients with exertional rhabdomyolysis should be aware of the potential vulnerability to acute myopericarditis, especially in the presence of recent influenza A infection.

Investigation of Neurological Complications after COVID-19 Vaccination: Report of the Clinical Scenarios and Review of the Literature.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), broke out in 2019 and became a pandemic in 2020. Since then, vaccines have been approved to prevent severe illness. However, vaccines are associated with the risk of neurological complications ranging from mild to severe. Severe complications such as vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) associated with acute ischaemic stroke have been reported as rare complications post-COVID-19 vaccination. During the pandemic era, VITT evaluation is needed in cases with a history of vaccination within the last month prior to the event. Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) should be suspected in patients following immunization with persistent headaches who are unresponsive to analgesics. In this article, we investigated neurological complications after COVID-19 vaccination and provided more subsequent related clinical studies of accurate diagnosis, pathophysiological mechanisms, incidence, outcome, and management.

Investigation of the underuse of adrenaline (epinephrine) and prognosis among patients with anaphylaxis at emergency department admission.

Background: Anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal condition; in severe cases of anaphylaxis, the cardiovascular system is often heavily involved. Adrenaline (epinephrine) is a cornerstone of the initial treatment of anaphylaxis. The use of epinephrine remains below expectations in clinical practice. Whether the underuse of epinephrine affects the prognosis of patients with anaphylaxis is still unclear. Materials and methods: This retrospective study included patients with anaphylaxis between 2011 and 2020 who were admitted to an emergency department (ED) in Taiwan. All patients were divided into two groups based on the use of epinephrine (or not), and we compared the demographic characteristics, allergens, clinical manifestations, management, and patient outcomes. Results: We reviewed the records of 314 subjects (216 males, 98 females; mean age: 52.78 ± 16.02 years) who visited our ED due to anaphylaxis; 107 (34.1%) and 207 (65.9%) patients were categorized into the epinephrine use group and the non-epinephrine use group, respectively. Arrival via ambulance (p = 0.019), hypotension (p = 0.002), airway compromise (p < 0.001) and altered consciousness (p < 0.001) were the deciding factors for epinephrine use among anaphylactic patients in the ED. The epinephrine use group had higher rates of other inotropic agent usage and fluid challenge. More than 90% of patients received bed rest, steroids, antihistamines, and monitoring. The epinephrine use group had a longer ED length of stay (387.64 ± 374.71 vs. 313.06 ± 238.99 min, p = 0.03) and a greater need of hospitalization. Among all severe symptoms, hypotension was the most tolerated decision factor for not using epinephrine. In this retrospective analysis, some patients with serious anaphylaxis did not experience adverse outcomes or death even without the use of epinephrine at ED admission. Emergent care focuses first on the airway, breathing, and circulation (ABC) and may compensate for the underusage of epinephrine. This could be the reason why epinephrine was underused among patients with anaphylaxis in the ED. Conclusion: In summary, early ABC management continues to play an important role in treating patients with severe anaphylaxis, even when epinephrine is not immediately available in clinical scenarios.

MicroRNA regulators of vascular pathophysiology in chronic kidney disease.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a severe comorbidity in chronic kidney disease (CKD) due to heavy calcification in the medial layer and inflamed plaques. Chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and vascular calcification are major contributors that lead to artherosclerosis in CKD. The lack of specific symptoms and signs of CAD and decreased accuracy of noninvasive diagnostic tools result in delayed diagnosis leading to increased mortality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators present in various biofluids throughout the body. In the circulation, miRNAs have been reported to be encapsulated in extracellular vesicles and serve as stable messengers for crosstalk among cells. miRNAs are involved in pathophysiologic mechanisms including CAD and can potentially be extended from basic research to clinical translational practice.

Back to the future: how biology and technology could change the role of PTFE grafts in vascular access management.

Although the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred mode of dialysis vascular access, AVF maturation failure remains a huge clinical problem, often resulting in a prolonged duration of use of tunneled dialysis catheters. In contrast, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts do not suffer from early failure, but have significant problems with later stenosis and thrombosis. This review will initially summarize the pathology and pathogenesis of PTFE graft dysfunction and will then use this as a basis for describing some novel therapies, which may have the potential to reduce PTFE graft dysfunction. Finally, we will emphasize that the introduction of such therapies could be an important first step toward individualizing overall vascular access care.

Vitamin D for Recovery of COVID-19 in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease.

The severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is determined not only by viral damage to cells but also by the immune reaction in the host. In addition to therapeutic interventions that target the viral infection, immunoregulation may be helpful in the management of COVID-19. Vitamin D exerts effects on both innate and adaptive immunity and subsequently modulates immune responses to bacteria and viruses. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) frequently have vitamin D deficiency and increased susceptibility to infection, suggesting a potential role of vitamin D in this vulnerable population. In this paper, we review the alterations of the immune system, the risk of COVID-19 infections and mechanisms of vitamin D action in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 in CKD patients. Previous studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency can affect the outcomes of COVID-19. Supplementing vitamin D during treatment may be protective against COVID-19. Future studies, including randomized control trials, are warranted to determine the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the recovery from COVID-19 in CKD patients.

Case report: Rhabdomyolysis and kidney injury in a statin-treated hypothyroid patient-kill two birds with one stone.

Statin treatment for hypercholesterolemia may cause reversible rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury in susceptible patients. However, persistent rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury following discontinuation of statins require careful evaluation of the underlying causes to avoid missing a curable disease. We describe a 50-year-old woman with hypercholesterolemia [total cholesterol 345 mg/dl, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) 266 mg/dL] on atorvastatin therapy (40 mg daily) for 1 month that presented with myalgia and muscle weakness. Relevant laboratory studies revealed persistent higher hypercholesterolemia with total cholesterol (312 mg/dL), high creatine kinase (CK) (5,178 U/L), and high creatinine levels (1.5 mg/dL) without dysmorphic red blood cells and proteinuria. Despite the cessation of statin therapy, serum CK level increased to 9,594 U/L, and creatinine remained at 1.5 mg/dL. A thorough work-up to assess potential underlying causes indicated low T3 and free T4 and high thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels, consistent with hypothyroidism. With aggressive thyroxine replacement for 1 month, all of the clinical features, along with elevated serum CK and creatinine levels, were completely resolved. This case highlights the fact that hypothyroidism must be kept in mind as a potential cause of concomitant myopathy and kidney injury, especially in patients with statin-resistant hypercholesterolemia.

Investigation of the Relationship between Lean Muscle Mass and Erythropoietin Resistance in Maintenance Haemodialysis Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Each patient undergoing maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) has a different response to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). Haemodilution due to fluid overload has been shown to contribute to anaemia. Body mass index (BMI) has been shown to influence ESA response in dialysis patients; however, BMI calculation does not distinguish between fat and lean tissue. The association between lean muscle mass and erythropoietin hyporesponsiveness is still not well-known among MHD patients. We designed a cross-sectional study and used bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) to analyse the relationship between body composition, haemoglobin level, and erythropoietin resistance index (ERI) in MHD patients. Seventy-seven patients were enrolled in the study group. Compared with patients with haemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL, those with haemoglobin < 10 g/dL had higher serum ferritin levels, malnutrition−inflammation scores (MIS), relative overhydration, ESA doses, and ERIs. In multivariate logistic regression, higher ferritin levels and MIS were the only predictors of lower haemoglobin levels. The ERI was significantly positively correlated with age, Kt/V, ferritin levels, and MIS and negatively correlated with albumin levels, BMI, and lean tissue index (LTI). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that ferritin levels, BMI, and LTI were the most important predictors of ERI. In MHD patients, using BIS to measure body composition can facilitate the development of early interventions that aim to prevent sarcopenia, support ESA responsiveness, and, consequently, improve anaemia management.

Combination of Multidisciplinary Therapies Successfully Treated Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmia in a STEMI Patient: Case Report and Literature Review.

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia that can lead to loss of cardiac function and sudden cardiac death. The most common cause of VF is ischemic cardiomyopathy, especially in the context of an acute coronary event. Prompt treatment with resuscitation and defibrillation can be lifesaving. Refractory VF, or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (pVT), refers to cases that do not respond to traditional advanced cardiac life-support (ACLS) measures, and it has a low survival rate. Some new life-saving interventions and novel techniques have been proposed as viable treatment options for patients presenting with refractory VF/pVT out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; these include extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), esmolol, stellate ganglion block (SGB), and double sequential defibrillation (DSD). Recently, DSD has been discussed and used more frequently, but its survival rate is still not promising. We report a case of refractory VF caused by acute myocardial infarction that was treated with ACLS, DSD, ECMO, and cardiac catheterization in sequence, with a successful outcome.

The role of anti-platelet factor 4 antibodies and platelet activation tests in patients with vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia: Brief report on a comparison of the laboratory diagnosis and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel human pathogen causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Rare cases of COVID-19 vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) after the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AstraZeneca) vaccination have been reported. We performed a test for anti-heparin/ platelet factor 4 (PF4) antibodies and functional assay using flow cytometry. METHOD: A healthy woman presented to the emergency department with chest pain, headache, and abdominal pain after the first vaccination with AstraZeneca. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2 was negative. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed pulmonary artery embolism and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed cerebral sinus-venous thrombosis. Abdominal CT demonstrated the thrombosis with occlusion in her right hepatic vein. Laboratory studies revealed decreased platelet counts, and high D-dimer level. Finally, laboratory results indicated high PF4 antibodies level high and a positive platelet activation test, confirming the diagnosis of VITT. RESULTS: Treatments including intravenous immunoglobulin, methylprednisolone and direct oral anticoagulant were administered. The results of a follow-up platelet count and D-dimer were normal. In addition, the titer of PF4 antibodies (optical density: 0.425; normal ≤ 0.4, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) fell. After a 3-month follow-up, her general condition improved gradually. CONCLUSIONS: The use of COVID-19 vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections and complications is considered the most practicable policy for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic and is being forcefully pursued in the global area. Appropriate laboratory diagnosis facilitates the accurate and rapid diagnosis. Early recognizing and appropriate strategies for VITT are required and can provide these patients with more favorable patient outcomes. This report also elected to make comparisons of clinical manifestation, laboratory diagnosis, and management in patients with VITT.