The outcome of using intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in critically ill COVID-19 patients': a retrospective, multi-centric cohort study.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, different treatments have been used in critically ill patients. Using intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been suggested in various studies as an effective option. Our study aims to access the efficacy of IVIG in critically ill COVID-19 patients. METHODS: In this retrospective matched cohort study, records of three tertiary centers with a large number of COVID-19 admissions were evaluated and used. Based on treatment options, patients were divided into two groups, standard COVID-19 treatment (109 patients) and IVIG treatment (74 patients) patients. Also, the effect of IVIG in different dosages was evaluated. Patients with IVIG treatment were divided into three groups of low (0.25 gr/kg), medium (0.5 gr/kg), and high (1 gr/kg) dose. Data analysis was performed using an independent t test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare the outcomes between two groups, including duration of hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, and mortality rate. RESULTS: The duration of hospitalization in the IVIG group was significantly longer than standard treatment (13.74 days vs. 11.10 days, p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in ICU length of stay, the number of intubated patients, and duration of mechanical ventilation (p > 0.05). Also, initial outcomes in IVIG subgroups were compared separately with the standard treatment group. The results indicated that only the duration of hospitalization in the IVIG subgroup with medium dose is significantly longer than the standard treatment group (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that the use of IVIG in critically ill COVID-19 patients could not be beneficial, based on no remarkable differences in duration of hospitalization, ICU length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and even mortality rate.

Helicobacter species in the atherosclerotic plaques of patients with coronary artery disease.

INTRODUCTION: Several epidemiological studies have proposed an association between Helicobacter pylori infection and coronary artery disease. In the current study, we aimed to evaluate the prevalence and relevance of H. pylori infection, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, in the coronary arterial wall of Iranian patients who have already undergone coronary bypass grafting (CABG). METHODS: A total of 105 consecutive patients who underwent CABG at the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences were included in the study, and biopsy specimens from their coronary plaques were taken and analyzed using the PCR methods for detecting Helicobacter species (H Spp.). Fifty-three specimens from biopsies of the left internal mamillary artery in the same patients were also collected and tested. RESULTS: H. Spp. PCR test result was positive for 31 (29.5%) specimens from coronary artery atherosclerotic plaques. Serologic test results also showed 25 (23.8%) positive cases for H. pylrori immunoglobulin A (IgA) and 56 (53.3%) positive for anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G. None of the specimens from the mamillary artery were positive for H Spp. genome when it was evaluated using PCR (P<.0001). Patients with positive test result for H. pylori IgA were significantly more likely to have higher total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels than IgA-negative patients. CONCLUSION: H Spp. infection replication in the coronary arterial wall is associated with atherosclerotic plaque formation. Seropositivity for H. pylori IgA may also enhance blood values of total cholesterol and LDL in these patients.