Zika virus-induced neurological critical illness in Latin America: Severe Guillain-Barre Syndrome and encephalitis.

Zika virus (ZIKAV) is classically described as causing minor symptoms in adult patients, however neurologic complications have been recognized. The recent outbreak in Central and South America has resulted in serious illness in some adult patients. We report adult patients in Latin America diagnosed with ZIKAV infection admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs). METHODS: Multicenter, prospective case series of adult patients with laboratory diagnosis of ZIKAV in 16 ICUs in 8 countries. RESULTS: Between December 1st 2015 and April 2nd 2016, 16 ICUs in 8 countries enrolled 49 critically ill patients with diagnosis of ZIKAV infection. We included 10 critically ill patients with ZIKAV infection, as diagnosed with RT-PCR, admitted to the ICU. Neurologic manifestations concordant with Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) were present in all patients, although 2 evolved into an encephalitis-like picture. 2 cases died, one due to encephalitis, the other septic shock. CONCLUSIONS: Differing from what was usually reported, ZIKAV infection can result in life-threatening neurologic illness in adults, including GBS and encephalitis. Collaborative reporting to identify severe illness from an emerging pathogen can provide valuable insights into disease epidemiology and clinical presentation, and inform public health authorities about acute care priorities.

Evidencia disponible sobre el abordaje terapéutico de pacientes con COVID-19: una revisión narrativa / Available evidence regarding therapeutic approach of patients with COVID-19: a narrative review

La ausencia de tratamiento específico para COVID-19 demanda una revisión dinámica de la evidencia científica disponible que permita un manejo dirigido a lograr la mejoría clínica, reducción de complicaciones y una menor mortalidad. Los factores independientes de riesgo asociados a mayor mortalidad, falla ventilatoria y necesidad de ventilación mecánica incluyen edad avanzada, enfermedades crónico-degenerativas, obesidad, elevación de ferritina, LDH, ALT y AST, marcadores de incremento en la generación de trombina, datos de daño cardiaco (elevación de troponinas y NT-pro-BNP) y niveles de IL-6 elevados. En ausencia de antivirales de acción directa, el abordaje terapéutico temprano con terapia anti-IL-6, la supresión de la cascada inflamatoria y transducción de señales mediante uso de glucocorticoides, la profilaxis trombótica y anticoagulación, así como la inhibición de la trombogénesis y noxa cardiaca con el uso de colchicina, pueden ser considerados hasta el momento como medidas plausibles en el manejo de los pacientes con COVID-19 en estado moderado y grave. Remdesivir puede considerarse para el tratamiento de pacientes con lesión pulmonar severa sin falla ventilatoria, tras evidencia sólida que ha demostrado mejoría clínica y reducción de mortalidad. En el subgrupo de pacientes graves y bajo ventilación mecánica, el uso de plasma de paciente convaleciente ha producido mejoría clínica, aunque la evidencia es limitada. La pronación en el paciente despierto y bajo ventilación mecánica puede considerarse como medida para mejorar la oxigenación con poca influencia sobre la mortalidad. Esta revisión plantea las medidas terapéuticas disponibles al momento y la estratificación de riesgo para el manejo de pacientes con infección por SARS-CoV-2.

The absence of a specific treatment for COVID-19 demands a dynamic review of the available scientific evidence that allows a management aimed at achieving clinical improvement, reduction of complications, and lower mortality. Independent risk factors associated with increased respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation requirement, and mortality include older age, chronic illness, obesity, ferritin, LDH, ALT, and AST elevation, thrombin release markers, cardiac damage markers (troponins and NT-proBNP elevation) and elevated levels of IL-6. In the absence of specific antiviral agents, the early treatment of mild to severe COVID-19 using IL-6 inhibitors, suppression of inflammatory cascade and signal transduction by using glucocorticoids, use of antithrombotic prophylaxis and anticoagulation, as well as thrombogenesis and cardiac damage inhibition by using colchicine, could be considered as a plausible route. Another drug to be considered in patients with severe lung injury without respiratory failure is remdesivir, which has shown substantial evidence reducing mortality and clinical improvement. In severe COVID-19 and in those that require ventilatory assistance, convalescent plasma use has resulted in clinical improvement despite limited evidence. Prone positioning in awake and intubated patients might be considered to improve oxygenation with scarce effect on mortality. The present review aims to expose the current therapeutic options and risk stratification course for the management of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients.