Persistent SARS-CoV-2 infectivity greater than 50 days in a case series of allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplant recipients.

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic has infected tens of millions across the world, but there is a significant gap in our understanding about COVID-19 in the hematopoietic stem transplant (HSCT) recipient population. Prolonged viral shedding is frequently observed with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARSCoV-2), but studies suggest viral loads decline 10 days after symptom onset. Current CDC guidance suggests that severely ill and immunocompromised hosts are no longer infectious after 20 days from symptom onset. Cycle threshold (Ct) values are inversely proportional to the viral load and are used to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration. Specimens with reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) Ct values > 33-34 have been associated with inability to culture virus, and have been used as a surrogate for diminished infectivity. We report two cases of  allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT) recipients who had prolonged durations of infectivity with SARSCov-2, based on culture positivity and persistently low Ct values for greater than 50 days.

Palliative care issues in heart transplant candidates.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Heart failure is a serious condition and equivalent to malignant disease in terms of symptoms burden and mortality. Presently, only a comparatively small number of heart failure patients receive specialized palliative care. A literature search was conducted with the terms, palliative care and heart failure, using the electronic databases of PubMed and MEDLINE. RECENT FINDINGS: Nine-hundred and five articles were reviewed and of those, 78 articles discussed clinical trials in palliative care and heart failure. A complex set of management tools and strategies were used and recommended, including but not limited to lifestyle modification, exercise programs, pain and sleep disorder management, and support in end-of-life care. Limited data are available of using palliative care in heart transplant candidates prior to transplant surgery. SUMMARY: Diminishing quality of life prevails throughout the course of chronic heart failure. Therefore, palliative care should be integrated into heart failure management. Heart transplant candidates may benefit from early palliative care involvement independent of the clinical course and outcome. Because of gaps in current scientific literature on palliative care, end-of-life care, and hospice care and the services rendered, further research is necessary to encourage healthcare professionals to introduce palliative care as an early resource in chronic disease progression.

An evaluation of the prevalence and severity of pain and other symptoms in acute decompensated heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure is characterized by recurrent decompensations and persistent symptoms that decrease quality of life. Shortness of breath and fatigue are commonly identified symptoms but there is limited data on pain in heart failure patients. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) was used to identify the prevalence and severity of pain and other symptoms experienced by patients with acute decompensated heart failure. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study that evaluated patients with a history of chronic heart failure admitted to the hospital with acute decompensated heart failure. A standardized questionnaire (ESAS) was administered to patients within 24 hours of hospital admission. Exclusion criteria included patients <18 years of age, admission for a noncardiac reason, active malignancy, history of chronic pain, outpatient chronic pain medication use, and those actively followed by the palliative care service. RESULTS: One hundred patients, 67 males, with a mean age of 58 ± 17 years were recruited. The mean ejection fraction (EF) was 37%± 18%. Sixty patients (60%) reported pain of any degree. Patients with lower EF (≤ 40%, n=61) reported significantly higher pain scores (4.1 ± 3.6) compared to patients with higher EF (>40%, n=36, 2.7 ± 3.4, p<0.05). Tiredness, shortness of breath, and decreased well-being were the most severe symptoms with mean scores of 6.3 ± 2.8, 6.1 ± 3.1, and 5.7 ± 2.6, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pain is a common, underrecognized symptom in patients with chronic but acute decompensated heart failure. Decreased well-being, shortness of breath, and tiredness are the most common and severe symptoms in patients with chronic heart failure, regardless of ejection fraction.