[Vitamin D dosage : is it for everyone ?] / Dosage de la vitamine D : vraiment utile pour tous ?

In recent years, the topic of vitamin D has been the subject of numerous publications covering a wide range of fields, with the corollary effect of overusing its routine dosage. However, substitution benefits only a small part of the population and systematic dosing of vitamin D outside risk situations is not recommended. This dosage of vitamin D is only useful if it results in effective treatment in case of deficiency. The purpose of this article is to provide a synthesis of current knowledge about vitamin D, in particular about the indications for its dosage in clinical practice.

Ces dernières années, le thème de la vitamine D a nourri de très nombreuses publications couvrant des domaines très variés avec comme effet corollaire une surutilisation de son dosage de routine. Toutefois, la substitution ne bénéficie qu'à une petite partie de la population et le dosage systématique de la vitamine D en dehors de situation à risque n'est pas recommandé. Ce dosage de la vitamine D n'a d'intérêt que s'il débouche sur un traitement efficace en cas de déficit. Le but de cet article est de proposer une synthèse des connaissances actuelles sur la vitamine D, en particulier au sujet des indications retenues pour son dosage en pratique clinique.

[Euglycemic ketoacidosis : a complication of SGLT2 inhibitors]. / Acidocétose euglycémique : une complication des inhibiteurs du SGLT2.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors constitute a new category of oral antidiabetics recently indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Their mechanism of action (inhibition of renal reabsorption of glucose) and the fact that they do not induce hypoglycemia (as monotherapy) make their clinical use interesting. Various adverse events have however been reported regarding these drugs with the euglycemic ketoacidosis being the most serious. In this article we aim to review the possible mechanism of this side effect and recommendations for use of SGLT2 inhibitors by means of a case report.

Les inhibiteurs du SGLT2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2) sont une nouvelle catégorie d'antidiabétiques oraux recommandés récemment pour le traitement du diabète de type 2. Leur mécanisme d'action (inhibition de la réabsorption du glucose au niveau rénal) et le fait qu'ils n'induisent pas d'hypoglycémie (en monothérapie) rendent leur profil intéressant. Cependant, plusieurs effets indésirables ont été décrits depuis leur apparition, dont le plus grave est une acidocétose euglycémique. Dans cet article, nous revoyons à la lumière d'un cas les mécanismes probables de cet effet secondaire et les recommandations d'utilisation des inhibiteurs du SGLT2.

Self-proning in COVID-19 patients on low-flow oxygen therapy: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Prone positioning as a complement to oxygen therapy to treat hypoxaemia in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia in spontaneously breathing patients has been widely adopted, despite a lack of evidence for its benefit. We tested the hypothesis that a simple incentive to self-prone for a maximum of 12 h per day would decrease oxygen needs in patients admitted to the ward for COVID-19 pneumonia on low-flow oxygen therapy. METHODS: 27 patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to Geneva University Hospitals were included in the study. 10 patients were randomised to self-prone positioning and 17 to usual care. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Oxygen needs assessed by oxygen flow on nasal cannula at inclusion were similar between groups. 24 h after starting the intervention, the median (interquartile range (IQR)) oxygen flow was 1.0 (0.1-2.9) L·min-1 in the prone position group and 2.0 (0.5-3.0) L·min-1 in the control group (p=0.507). Median (IQR) oxygen saturation/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio was 390 (300-432) in the prone position group and 336 (294-422) in the control group (p=0.633). One patient from the intervention group who did not self-prone was transferred to the high-dependency unit. Self-prone positioning was easy to implement. The intervention was well tolerated and only mild side-effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Self-prone positioning in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring low-flow oxygen therapy resulted in a clinically meaningful reduction of oxygen flow, but without reaching statistical significance.

Macrophage activation syndrome as an unusual presentation of paucisymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection: A case report.

RATIONALE: Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a rare life-threatening condition characterized by cytokine-mediated tissue injury and multiorgan dysfunction. PATIENT CONCERNS: We describe the unique case of young man who developed MAS as the sole manifestation of an otherwise paucisymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. DIAGNOSES: Clinical and biological criteria led to the diagnosis of MAS; cytokine profile was highly suggestive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal swabs was negative, but serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin A and immunoglobulin G resulted positive leading to the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. INTERVENTIONS: The patient was treated with empiric antibiotic and hydroxychloroquine. OUTCOMES: Clinical improvement ensued. At follow-up, the patient is well. LESSON: SARS-CoV-2 infection may trigger develop life-threatening complications, like MAS. This can be independent from coronavirus disease 2019 gravity.