Can blood glucose levels predict biochemical and haematological abnormalities in COVID -19 patients - Experience from a tertiary care hospital in Balochistan.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the association between poor glycaemic levels and biochemical and haematological abnormalities in patients of corona virus disease-2019. METHODS: The prospective, observational, cohort study was conducted at the Combined Military Hospital, Quetta, Pakistan, from September 2020 to February 2021, and comprised all patients who tested positive for coronavirus disease-2019 on polymerase chain reaction test and were subsequently admitted. The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of random blood glucose level at the time of admission; ≥11.1mmol/l (206mg/dl) in group A and 4-11.1mmol (74-206mg/dl) in group B. Association between categorical variables was evaluated and hazard ratio was measured. Data was analysed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: Of the 349 patients, there were 56(16%) in group A; 40(71.4%) males and 16(28.6%) females with age range 39-61 years. There were 293(84%) subjects in group B; 239(81.5%) males and 54(18.5%) females with age range 27-53 years. Overall, 75(21.4%) patients were known type 2 diabetics. A significant association was found between poor glycaemic control and raised levels of C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, troponin, creatine kinase, creatine kinase-MB, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine and D-dimers (p<0.05). Inter-group differences were significant for acute kidney injury, acute liver injury, Intensive care unit admission for coagulation abnormalities and for overall mortality (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Poor glycaemic control was found to be a risk factor for developing multisystem complications in patients of coronavirus disease-2019.

Central Nervous System Tuberculosis With Shower Like Pattern of Intracranial Tuberculomas in an Immunocompetent Patient.

Central nervous system tuberculosis (CNS TB), though comparatively uncommon as compared to other forms of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB), results in high morbidity and mortality. The symptoms are non-specific and of a progressive nature resulting in delayed diagnosis. We present a case of CNS TB that presented two months after the onset of symptoms. The patient's condition reached the point of being bedbound. On investigation, the widespread involvement of the brain with shower-like pattern of ring enhancing tuberculomas and associated tuberculous meningitis was found. This was a surprising finding considering the patient was immunocompetent. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed lesions in midbrain, pons, medulla, thalamus, bilateral cerebellar hemispheres and bilateral cerebral hemispheres. Upon treatment initiation the patient responded well with resolution of all lesions.