Integrated therapeutic plasma exchange and traditional Chinese medicine treatment in a patient with severe COVID-19: A case report.

This report presents the case of a 59-year-old man with severe COVID-19 that gradually progressed to cytokine release syndrome and then acute respiratory distress syndrome; he was successfully treated via integration of therapeutic plasma exchange and traditional Chinese medicine. The patient initially presented with a sore throat, severe muscle aches, productive cough and fever. On the worsening of symptoms, remdesivir was administered. However, as the symptoms continued to worsen and a cytokine release syndrome was suspected, oxygen was provided through a high-flow nasal cannula (50 L/min) and therapeutic plasma exchange was performed to prevent worsening of the acute respiratory distress syndrome. On the same day, a course of traditional Chinese medicine was introduced in consultation with the infectious house staff. The patient's symptoms gradually improved; the levels of C-reactive protein and D-dimers reduced, and the patient was weaned to a simple oxygen mask and eventually to room air. This is the first reported case of the integration of these treatments. Together, they prevented the patient from requiring intubation, played a role in cytokine management, and also improved the clinical symptoms, including productive purulent sputum, cough, frequent stool passage and intermittent fever, with no adverse effects. As a result, the patient was discharged within two weeks of the integration of these treatments. Therefore, the integration of therapeutic plasma exchange and traditional Chinese medicine is an effective therapy for patients with severe COVID-19.

Association between management of metabolic syndrome and progression of early-stage chronic kidney disease: an observational cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the effect of treating metabolic syndrome (MetS) on further kidney function decline in patients with early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: In a study period of 24 months, 162 patients with early stage CKD were enrolled. Baseline and follow-up data related to the occurrence of MetS and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were assessed. Subjects were classified into controlled MetS (group 1) and uncontrolled MetS (group 2). Furthermore, they were subdivided into four subgroups: (A) controlled MetS at baseline and at follow-up, (B) uncontrolled MetS at baseline but controlled MetS at follow-up visits, (C) controlled MetS at baseline but uncontrolled MetS at follow-up visits, and (D) uncontrolled MetS at baseline and follow-up visits. RESULTS: Final GFR was lower in group 2 versus group 1 (69.21 ± 20.20 vs. 82.86 ± 22.33 mL/min/1.73 m(2), p <0.001). The presence of MetS had high risk to develop late-stage CKD (HR = 3.279, 95% CI: 1.545-6.958, p = 0.002). Moreover, subgroup D (HR = 2.982, 95% CI: 1.287-6.908, p = 0.011) and the presence of three (p = 0.026) or four (p = 0.049) metabolic components had high risk to develop late-stage CKD. CONCLUSION: Treating MetS slows CKD progression in patients with early-stage of CKD.