Vitamin D Supplementation in COVID-19 Patients: A Clinical Case Series.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected more than 4.4 million people and caused more than 300,000 deaths partly through acute respiratory distress syndrome with propensity to affect African American and Hispanic communities disproportionately. Patients with worse outcomes have exhibited higher blood plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Activation of the vitamin D receptor expressed on immune cells has been shown to directly reduce the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-6, and indirectly affect C-reactive protein. AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY: The significance of the vitamin D pathway in patients diagnosed with COVID-19. THERAPEUTIC INNOVATION: Vitamin D supplementation in patients after diagnosis of COVID-19. PATIENTS AND PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS: We report 4 vitamin D deficient patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in April 2020 who were provided with either cholecalciferol of 1000 IU daily (standard dose) or ergocalciferol 50,000 IU daily for 5 days (high dose) as part of supplementation. CLINICAL OUTCOMES: Patients that received a high dose of vitamin D supplementation achieved normalization of vitamin D levels and improved clinical recovery evidenced by shorter lengths of stay, lower oxygen requirements, and a reduction in inflammatory marker status. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D supplementation may serve as a viable alternative for curtailing acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients in underserved communities where resources to expensive and sought-after medications may be scarce. Randomized clinical trials will serve as an appropriate vessel to validate the efficacy of the therapeutic regimen and dissection of the pathway.

Hypercapnia as an absolute exclusion criteria for bronchoscopic lung volume reduction.

Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction is a procedure that involves placement of valves into the lung to intentionally cause atelectasis to help with perfusion-ventilation matching. There are strict exclusion criteria, such as hypercapnia, that prevent patients from qualifying for the procedure based on the early trials. We present a case of a patient that became a candidate for the procedure after utilizing AVAPS after BPAP failed to lower his PCO2 to qualify for the procedure. Additionally, newer studies show that patients who are hypercapnic might benefit from the procedure to improve hypercapnia.

Necrotizing Granulomatous Pneumocystis Infection Presenting as a Solitary Pulmonary Nodule: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Pneumocystis jirovecii is an opportunistic fungus that is classically associated with pneumonia in immunocompromised patients, particularly those with human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). However, this infection is now more commonly seen in those with malignancy, particularly lymphoproliferative disorders. Classic image findings with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) include bilateral ground-glass opacities with or without cyst formation. Up to 5% of patients with PJP may present with atypical image findings, specifically nodular opacities or masses thought to represent granulomatous inflammation. The differential diagnosis for a new solitary pulmonary nodule in an immunocompromised patient is broad. One must first rule out a recurrence of malignancy or new primary malignancy. In our patient's case, two nondiagnostic bronchoscopies with EBUS-TBNA eventually led to a surgical resection, which revealed a diagnosis of nodular necrotizing granulomatous Pneumocystis jirovecii. The diagnostic yield from EBUS is not well established, and most cases require surgical biopsy for definitive diagnosis. Further data regarding the use of EBUS-TBNA in diagnosing granulomatous PJP is needed.

Endobronchial Metastasis From Endometrial Carcinoma: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Primary endometrial carcinoma presenting with endobronchial metastasis is quite rare. Little is known about predisposing risk factors, and the exact pathophysiologic mechanism remains unclear. The clinical presentation is non-specific, and symptoms likely vary depending on the disease burden. Proper tissue acquisition is necessary in order to differentiate between primary pulmonary malignancy and extra-thoracic malignancy presenting as metastatic disease. Although no formal guidelines regarding a standard diagnostic approach exist, flexible bronchoscopy with biopsy is generally regarded as having a high diagnostic yield depending on the extent of disease burden.