COVID-19: high-resolution computed tomography findings in the first 64 patients admitted to the Hospital of Cremona, the epicentre of the pandemic in Europe.

PURPOSE: In December 2019, a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as being responsible for the pulmonary infection called COVID-19. On 21 February 2020, the first autochthonous case of COVID-19 was detected in Italy. Our goal is to report the most common chest computed tomography (CT) findings identified in 64 patients, in the initial phase of COVID-19. METHODS: Sixty-four chest high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) examinations performed at the Radiology Unit of the Hospital of Cremona, from 22 to 29 February 2020, of 64 patients during first week of hospitalization for COVID-19 were retrospectively evaluated. All cases were confirmed by real-time RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Image analysis was independently conducted by 2 radiologists with 10 years and 1 year of experience in chest imaging. The inter-observer agreement was obtained by applying a Cohen's κ test. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 67.1 years (± 12.2); men 42 (66%). HRCT was performed on the 5th (± 1.5) day of hospitalization. More frequently, the initial CT changes of the lung show more or less extensive areas of ground-glass, as single pattern or with parenchymal consolidations. Coronavirus lung involvement appears very frequently multi-lobar, bilateral, and it concerns both subpleural and central regions. An excellent agreement (κ: 0.88-1, CI: 0.79-1.01, p < 0.05) concerning CT findings between the 2 operators was reached. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that detection of the most frequent pulmonary CT-scan changes, in the early stages of COVID-19, can be performed, with excellent agreement, among readers with different experience, and consequently attribute their exact diagnostic value, in an appropriate clinical and environmental exposure setting.

Successful protein C concentrate administration during initiation of oral anticoagulation in adult patients with severe congenital protein C deficiency: report of two cases.

Protein C (PC) is a vitamin K-dependent proenzyme with anticoagulant activity, and patients with congenital PC deficiency are at high risk for thrombotic episodes. In patients with PC deficiency, starting treatment with oral anticoagulant drugs is associated with a transient hypercoagulable state and clinically overt thromboembolic complications before reaching a full anticoagulant effect. This report describes a successful supplementation with PC concentrate in two adult patients with moderately severe PC deficiency during the initiation of oral anticoagulation and a course of therapeutic dose of low-molecular-weight heparin for acute venous thromboembolism. Plasma PC levels above 50% were observed in both patients and maintained during the entire supplementation treatment period with PC concentrate until a stable therapeutic anticoagulation level has been reached. These results have been obtained within a short time, thus allowing a safe administration of a loading dose of warfarin. No adverse reactions to the PC concentrate, i.e. skin necrosis and other thromboembolic complications, bleedings or allergic reactions, were observed. We conclude that PC concentrate seems to be effective for the prevention of thromboembolic complications and safe in patients with congenital PC deficiency while initiating oral anticoagulants.

Venous thromboembolism prevention in patients with heart failure: an often neglected issue.

Several epidemiological studies have shown a high prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) complications in patients with acute heart failure; in addition, the level of risk associated with this disease is notable, ranging from 15 to 30%. Three large clinical trials have clearly demonstrated the efficacy and safety of pharmacological prophylaxis in internal medicine patients hospitalized for an acute medical disease; on the contrary, until now there are no studies which have evaluated antithrombotic prophylaxis in a selected population of patients with heart failure only. Moreover, discrepancies existing among recommendations reported in different guidelines may produce uncertainties in the management of VTE prevention in patients with heart failure and may contribute to an underuse of thromboprophylaxis in the daily clinical practice. The aim of this review is to analyze the existing evidence about VTE risk in patients with heart failure as well as the efficacy and safety of antithrombotic prevention, and to underline which are the most important unmet clinical issues for the optimal management of thromboprophylaxis in this particular clinical setting.

Prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism with low molecular weight heparin in bariatric surgery: a prospective, randomised pilot study evaluating two doses of parnaparin (BAFLUX Study).

BACKGROUND: The optimal dose of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) to prevent venous thromboembolism (VTE) after bariatric surgery remains controversial. The aim of this multicentre, open-label, pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two different doses of the LMWH parnaparin administered to patients undergoing bariatric surgery. METHODS: Patients were randomised to receive 4,250 IU/day (group A) or 6,400 IU/day (group B) of parnaparin s.c. for 7-11 days. Bilateral colour Doppler ultrasound of the lower limb was performed before surgery and at the end of the treatment period. The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of asymptomatic and symptomatic deep vein thrombosis, symptomatic pulmonary embolism and death from any cause during treatment. The primary safety endpoint was major and clinically relevant non-major bleeding. RESULTS: A total of 258 patients underwent randomization; 8 subjects were excluded following the safety analysis. One hundred thirty-one patients [106 females; mean age, 40.3 years (standard deviation (SD) ±9.6); mean body mass index (BMI), 44.6 kg/m(2) (SD ±5.4)] were assigned to group A and 119 patients [93 females; mean age, 41.5 years (SD ±9.9); mean BMI, 44.2 kg/m(2) (SD ±5.4)] were assigned to group B. The rate of the primary efficacy outcome was 1.5% (two cases; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 0.2-6.0%) in group A as compared with 0.8% (one case; 95% CI, 0.4-5.3%) in group B (p = ns). The composite incidence of major bleeding and clinically relevant non-major bleeding was 6.1% (eight cases; 95% CI, 2.9-12.1%) in group A and 5.0% (six cases; 95% CI, 2.1-11.1%) in group B (p = ns). CONCLUSIONS: A parnaparin dose of 4,250 IU/day seems suitable for VTE prevention in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.

Venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing shoulder surgery: findings from the RECOS Registry.

BACKGROUND: Limited informations are available about venous thromboembolic (VTE) complications and thromboprophylaxis use after shoulder surgery. The primary end-point of the study was to determine the incidence of symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) within 90days after shoulder surgery. Risk factors for VTE and thromboprophylaxis practices were also studied. METHODS: RECOS is a prospective multicenter registry of consecutive patients undergoing shoulder surgery recruited in nine hospitals in Italy. Cumulative rates of VTE were estimated according to the Kaplan-Meier method; a Cox regression model was used to calculate adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for some variables that were identified as risk factors for VTE. RESULTS: From June 2009 to June 2011 1366 patients (males 54.4%; mean age 55,65±15.3years) were enrolled. The surgical procedures were: arthroscopy (71.9%), hemiarthroplasty (17.2%) total replacement (8.9%), fixation for proximal humeral fracture (2%). After 90days, the incidence of symptomatic VTE was 0.66% (95CI% 0.2-1.12). Mean age was significantly higher in patient with than in patients without VTE (67,1+/3.49years vs 55,6+/-0,42years, respectively; p=0.024). Duration of surgery>60minutes (HR:10.99; 95CI% 1.26-95.89; p=0.030) was found as independent risk factor for VTE, while cancer, medical disease, venous insufficiency and previous VTE were not. Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis was prescribed in 33.5% (n=457) of the patients, in 95.8% of whom for a duration >10days. CONCLUSIONS: The risk of symptomatic VTE in patients undergoing shoulder surgery is low. The potential need for thromboprophylaxis should be based on a case by case evaluation.

Oral factor Xa inhibitors for thromboprophylaxis in major orthopedic surgery: a review.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE), which includes deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery. Routine thromboprophylaxis has been the standard of care over the last 20 years. Currently available options for the prevention of VTE in major orthopedic surgery include low molecular weight heparins, vitamin K antagonists, and, more recently, the synthetic pentasaccharide fondaparinux. Although effective, all these drugs have several limitations and new oral antithrombotics offering predictable, effective and safe anticoagulation are strongly needed. This overview focuses on the most advanced oral direct inhibitors to factor Xa rivaroxaban, apixaban, LY517717 and YM150; specifically, the results of phase II and III studies and the designs of ongoing clinical trials in patients undergoing elective hip and knee replacement are reviewed.