Eculizumab treatment in patients with COVID-19: preliminary results from real life ASL Napoli 2 Nord experience.

OBJECTIVE: SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2)-related pneumonia, referred to as COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 19), is a public health emergency as it carries high morbidity, mortality, and has no approved specific pharmacological treatments. In this case series, we aimed to report preliminary data obtained with anti-complement C5 therapy with eculizumab in COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of ASL Napoli 2 Nord. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a case series of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV2 infection and severe pneumonia or ARDS who were treated with up to 4 infusions of eculizumab as an off-label agent. Patients were also treated with anticoagulant therapy with Enoxaparin 4000 IU/day via subcutaneous injection, antiviral therapy with Lopinavir 800 mg/day + Ritonavir 200 mg/day, hydroxychloroquine 400 mg/day, ceftriaxone 2 g/day IV, vitamine C 6 g/day for 4 days, and were on Non-Invasive Ventilation (NIV). RESULTS: We treated four COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit because of severe pneumonia or ARDS. All patients successfully recovered after treatment with eculizumab. Eculizumab induced a drop in inflammatory markers. Mean C Reactive Protein levels dropped from 14.6 mg/dl to 3.5 mg/dl and the mean duration of the disease was 12.8 days. CONCLUSIONS: Eculizumab has the potential to be a key player in treatment of severe cases of COVID-19. Our results support eculizumab use as an off-label treatment of COVID-19, pending confirmation from the ongoing SOLID-C19 trial.

Gastric emptying delay and gastric electrical derangement in IDDM.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with diabetes can develop gastrointestinal motor complications; however, prevalence of gut dysmotility in children with diabetes is poorly understood. We measured gastric emptying time and gastric electrical activity in children with IDDM; presence of dyspeptic symptoms was also assessed. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Gastric emptying time and gastric electrical activity were measured by ultrasonography and electrogastrography (EGG), respectively, in 40 consecutive IDDM children (median age: 9 years [6-14]) without autonomic neuropathy; 15 healthy children (median age: 7 years [4-15]) served as control subjects. The EGG variables studied were percent of electrical dysrhythmias (bradygastria or 0.5-2.0 cpm, tachygastria or 4.0-9.0 cpm; normal rhythm is 2.0-4.0 cpm) and fed-to-fasting ratio of the dominant EGG power. Blood glucose level in the fasting state and 180 min after feeding and HbA1C concentration were also measured. Data are given as median (ranges) and means +/- SD. Statistical analysis was performed using the parametric t test and the nonparametric signed-rank tests, with P < 0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: Gastric emptying time was delayed in 26 patients (group A), whereas in 14 patients (group B), it was in the same range as control values; group A patients significantly differed from group B for increased prevalence of gastric electrical dysrhythmias (P < 0.01) and for a lower fed-to-fasting ratio of the dominant EGG power (P < 0.01). Group B patients did not differ from control subjects for the EGG variables measured. Diabetic children with gastroparesis had significantly higher levels of both HbA1C and blood glucose measured 180 min after feeding than those with normal gastric emptying time (P < 0.05); there was a significant correlation between levels of HbA1C and degree of gastric emptying delay, whereas a significant inverse correlation between gastric emptying time and fed-to-fasting ratio of the dominant EGG power was found both in patients and control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: Delay of gastric emptying time and gastric electrical abnormalities are found in a high proportion of children with diabetes and can contribute to poor glycemic control, most likely by causing a mismatch between the onset of insulin action and the delivery of nutrients into the small intestine. Diabetic children with unexplained poor glycemic control should be investigated for abnormalities in gastric motility.

Postraumatic ARDS: how to place patients who may offer technical problems in a prone position.

Ventilation in the prone position is a valid choice in the treatment of trauma patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Two cases of trauma patients with ARDS treated in the prone position are described. The technique was very easy to use and safe. The prone position technique proved very useful in the treatment of post-traumatic ARDS in these 2 cases.

GIST: a clinical dilemma.

The authors report a clinical case of malignant gastric and duodenojejunal GIST, in which the only surgical treatment seems to be definitive. In a 69-year-old female, a surgical resection of the gastric and duodenojejunal tumor was performed. Histological analysis showed two spindle cells stromal tumors with mitotic rate >20/10 HPF and its uncommitted origin was demonstrated. Despite the high malignancy degree, the patient refused chemotherapy treatment and there were no local recurrence nor metastasis at a follow-up of 8 years. For this reason and because of the uncertain behavior of histologically benign GIST, the authors propose a lifelong follow-up of all patients managed with potentially curative surgical resection.

One-stage treatment in emergency setting for obstructing colorectal cancer.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the indications for one-stage treatment of obstructing colorectal cancer. From January 1998 to December 2003, 19 patients were operated on at our department for obstructing colorectal cancer. Thirteen patients underwent one-stage operation with immediate anastomosis without diversion, while 6 patients were managed palliatively. We performed resection and anastomosis following intraoperative irrigation in obstructing sigmoid cancer without colonic wall lesions, while subtotal colectomy was carried out in case of massively distended colon with ischemic lesions. Colostomy was indicated in 6 high-risk patients with unresectable lesions. In case of obstructing left colorectal cancer, an experienced surgeon can perform one-stage resection and anastomosis on good general status patients, conversely defunctioning colostomy may be ideal for surgeons with little experience in colorectal surgery and in very poor prognosis patients.

Colonoscopy and technetium-99m white cell scan in children with suspected inflammatory bowel disease.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the utility of the technetium-labeled autologous white cell scintigraphy (Tc-WCS) for detecting intestinal inflammation in children with suspected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Tc-WCS was compared with colonoscopy and histologic examination. STUDY DESIGN: Forty-eight children (26 boys; median age, 10 years; range, 2-17 years) with symptoms and signs suggesting IBD had colonoscopy with exploration of terminal ileum and mucosal biopsies. The scans were judged to be abnormal if activity was seen in the gut within the first hour. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients had a diagnosis of IBD (Crohn's disease, 13; ulcerative colitis, 5; indeterminate colitis, 3); results of scintigraphy were positive in 16 and negative in 5 (sensitivity, 76.2%); the latter had a moderate degree of intestinal inflammation. In 27 patients, IBD was ruled out. Results of scintigraphy were negative in children with non-specific colitis and in those with lymphoid hyperplasia of the terminal ileum, whereas results were positive in 6 of 12 patients with spondyloarthropathy. In children with IBD, there was a significant correlation between results of scintigraphy and endoscopy for the intensity of inflammation (r = 0.70); however, there was a poor correlation regarding the number of involved segments (r = 0.30) because in 16 patients, endoscopy revealed additional diseased segments as compared with scintigraphy. CONCLUSIONS: A positive Tc-WCS result indicates the presence of an inflammatory process of the gut, whereas a negative test result does not rule out intestinal inflammation, especially when the latter is of moderate degree. Colonoscopy and biopsy are the investigations of choice to establish the diagnosis of IBD and are superior to Tc-WCS in assessing topographic extension of IBD.