Impact of plasmapheresis on severe COVID-19.

The clinical course of COVID-19 may show severe presentation, potentially involving dynamic cytokine storms and T cell lymphopenia, which are leading causes of death in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Plasma exchange therapy (PLEX) effectively removes pro-inflammatory factors, modulating and restoring innate and adaptive immune responses. This clinical trial aimed to evaluate the impact of PLEX on the survival of patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 and the effect on the cytokine release syndrome. Hospitalized patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection and cytokine storm syndrome were selected to receive 2 sessions of PLEX or standard therapy. Primary outcome was all-cause 60-days mortality; secondary outcome was requirement of mechanical ventilation, SOFA, NEWs-2 scores modification, reduction of pro-inflammatory biomarkers and hospitalization time. Twenty patients received PLEX were compared against 40 patients receiving standard therapy. PLEX reduced 60-days mortality (50% vs 20%; OR 0.25, 95%CI 0.071-0.880; p = 0.029), and this effect was independent from demographic variables and drug therapies used. PLEX significantly decreased SOFA, NEWs-2, pro-inflammatory mediators and increased lymphocyte count, accompanied with a trend to reduce affected lung volume, without effect on SatO2/FiO2 indicator or mechanical ventilation requirement. PLEX therapy provided significant benefits of pro-inflammatory clearance and reduction of 60-days mortality in selected patients with COVID-19, without significant adverse events.

[Hemophagocytic syndrome associated with cytomegalovirus viral infection]. / Síndrome hemofagocítico asociado a infección viral por citomegalovirus.

The clinical case of a 19-year old woman with the clinical criteria of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) viral associated with Hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) is presented. The clinical outcome was poor and rapidly progressive, ending in exitus letalis. The principal concepts and characteristics of the Hemophagocytic syndrome are discussed, stressing the current consensus rules and the variations in management according to international guidelines.

Prognostic factors in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus admitted to the intensive care unit.

The objectives of this study were to identify risk factors associated with mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and to evaluate the usefulness of Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score to predict outcomes in these patients, through the use of a retrospective patient record review from a multidisciplinary intensive care unit in a teaching hospital. One hundred and four patients with SLE admitted to the ICU were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 32.44 years, 96.2% were female and 61.5% were admitted with infection. The mean APACHE II score was 19.7, 46.2% had acute renal dysfunction, 67.3% received inotropics/ vasopressors, 27.9% pulmonary artery catheter and 74% invasive mechanical ventilation. The mean length of stay in ICU was 18.5 days and mortality rate was 32.7%. In the univariate logistic regression analysis, factors associated with mortality were high APACHE II score, use of inotropics/vasopressors, pulmonary artery catheter and invasive mechanical ventilation. High APACHE II score and use of inotropics/vasopressors remained significant in the multi-variate analysis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the APACHE II score to predict mortality was 0.689 (95% CI 0.586-0.791 p = 0.002) and the Hosmer- Lemeshow chi( 2) was 5.094 (p = 0.747). We conclude that the mortality rate in patients with SLE admitted to the ICU is high. The most common cause of admission was infection. The factors associated with mortality were high APACHE II score and the use of inotropics/vasopressors. APACHE II score was unable to accurately predict mortality.