Post-COVID interstitial lung disease in symptomatic patients after COVID-19 disease.

COVID-19 is often associated with long-lasting pulmonary symptoms. Data are scarce about interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients following COVID-19 hospitalization with persistent symptoms. We retrospectively reviewed all cases sent to pulmonary post-COVID evaluation due to persistent symptoms between February 2021 and February 2022 (N = 318). All patients with suspected ILD (N = 44) were reviewed at the multidisciplinary discussion. Patient characteristics, symptoms, time since hospitalization, detailed lung function measurements and 6-min walk test (6MWT) were evaluated. The post-COVID ILD suspected group included more men (68.2 vs. 31.8%) with significantly older age compared to the control group (64.0 ± 12.3 vs. 51.3 ± 14.9 years). Most patient needed hospital care for COVID-19 pneumonia (68.6% of all patients and 84.1% of ILD suspected group) and average time since hospitalization was 2.4 ± 2.3 months. Persisting symptoms included fatigue (34%), dyspnoea (25.2%), cough (22.6%), and sleep disorders (insomnia 13.2%; sleepiness 8.2%). Post-COVID ILD presented more often with new symptoms of cough and sleepiness. Functional impairment, especially decreased walking distance and desaturation during 6-min walk test (6MWT) were detected in the ILD-suspected group. Respiratory function test in the post-COVID ILD group showed slight restrictive ventilatory pattern (FVC: 76.7 ± 18.1%, FEV1: 83.5 ± 19.1%, TLC: 85.6 ± 28.1%) and desaturation during 6MWT were detected in 41% of patients. LDCT changes were mainly ground glass opacities (GGO) and/or reticular abnormalities in most cases affecting < 10% of the lungs. Our data indicate that suspected post-COVID ILD is affecting 13.8% of symptomatic patients. High resolution chest CT changes were mainly low extent GGO/reticulation, while long-term lung structural changes need further evaluation.

Remdesivir in Solid Organ Recipients for COVID-19 Pneumonia.

Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients represent a vulnerable patient population and are of high risk for airborne viral infections, including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). Treatment of COVID-19 is still challenging, as no proven therapeutic regimen is available for immunocompromised patients. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of remdesivir (RDV) therapy in infected hospitalized SOT patients. All transplanted recipients (N = 25; lung: 19; kidney: 3, liver: 2, heart: 1) who needed hospital care were reviewed in the time period between September 2020 and May 2021 out of the 945 patients treated at the Department. Case control matched patients receiving RDV (all in need of supplementary oxygen) and standard of care (SOC) were included as controls. Among the 25 SOT patients (female:male = 11:14; average age = 53.2 ± 12.7 years), 15 received RDV medication (RDV-TX), and in 10 cases SOC treatment was used (SOC-TX). Significantly worse clinical score was noted in RDV patients compared with RDV-TX; however, transfer to a higher intensity care unit as well as 60-day survival of RDV-TX patients were significantly worse. All SOT fatalities within 60 days of follow-up were lung transplant recipients (6 out of 19 lung transplant patients). No adverse events were noted related to RDV therapy. In SOT patients, especially lung transplant recipients, with severe COVID-19 needing supplementary oxygen, RDV treatment was safe; however, outcome was significantly worse as compared with nontransplanted individuals with initially worse clinical parameters.

Long-term survival benefit of male and multimorbid COVID-19 patients with 5-day remdesivir treatment.

Background: Treatment of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is still challenging due to the lack of evidence-based treatment protocols and continuously changing epidemiological situations and vaccinations. Remdesivir (RDV) is among the few antiviral medications with confirmed efficacy for specific patient groups. However, real-world data on long-term outcomes for a short treatment course are scarce. Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study included real-life data collected during the second and third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary (September 1, 2020-April 30, 2021) from inpatients at a University Center (n = 947). Participants consisted of two propensity score-matched cohorts (370/370 cases): Group RDV including patients receiving RDV and supplementary oxygen and Group standard of care (SOC) as control. The primary outcome was the effect of 5-day RDV treatment on 30- and 60-day all-cause mortality. Multivariate analyses were performed to assess the effect of RDV by different covariates. Results: Group RDV included significantly more patients from the alpha variant wave, with greater frequency of comorbidities diabetes and anemia, and larger degree of parenchymal involvement. All-cause mortality at 30- and 60-day were significantly lower in Group RDV compared to Group SOC. Significant risk reduction of 60-day all-cause mortality was observed for RDV treatment in men and patients with COPD or multiple comorbidities. Conclusions: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with 5-day RDV treatment had significantly lower 30- and 60-day all-cause mortality, despite their more severe clinical condition. Men and patients with multiple comorbidities, including COPD, profited the most from RDV treatment in the long term. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, effective treatment regimens are needed for hospitalized patients.

[Treatment of adult intrapulmonary sequestration with video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy]. / Felnottkori intrapulmonalis sequestratio kezelése videothoracoscopos lobectomiával.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical removal is the gold standard method for the treatment of pulmonary sequestration (PS); nowadays, video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy (VATS) is more frequently applied in the surgical treatment of malignant pulmonary tumours and appears to be suitable also in case of benign pulmonary diseases. We are the first in Hungary, who report three, radiologically identified intralobar PS treated with VATS. METHOD: Surgeries were performed in general anaesthesia with double-lumen separated ventilation in lateral decubitus position through two ports (1.5 cm camera port and 5-6 cm axillary working port, protected by a plastic ring). Results and cases: Two of the patients presented with the symptoms of haemoptysis and pneumonia, and the third patient after radiological screening (one 37 years old woman and 2 men, 39 and 46 years old). The nutritive artery was identified on the CT scans in all cases. We removed the right lower lobe in two cases and the left lower lobe in one case without major complications. CONCLUSION: We recommend the video-thoracoscopic lobectomy for the treatment of PS as a suitable treatment option.

Slight decrease in bone mineralization in cow milk-sensitive children.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cow milk allergy (CMA) are potentially at risk for osteopenia because their milk-free diet usually contains a low calcium content. In our study, different parameters of bone mineralization in children with CMA were investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven CMA patients (mean age, 4.3 years; range, 3-8 years) were enrolled in the study. During a mean milk-free diet period of 11.8 months, children were fed extensively hydrolyzed or soy-based formulas. After a milk challenge test, 7 patients showed allergic symptoms, and the other 20 children had transient CMA. From the sera of all patients, the levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphate, and magnesium ions, as well as alkaline phosphatase (AP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), osteocalcin, and beta-crosslaps, were determined. These values were compared with those of 20 healthy age-matched controls. Bone mineral density was measured as well. RESULTS: The AP and PTH concentrations were higher in CMA patients than in the control group (AP: 610.2 U/L vs. 499.7 U/L, P < 0.01; PTH: 1.56 pmol/L vs. 0.83 pmol/L, P< 0.03), but all values were in the normal range. The osteocalcin concentration was similar in both groups, and the beta-crosslaps concentration was lower in CMA patients than in controls (0.92 vs. 1.47 ng/mL, P< 0.001). The mean Z score of bone mineral density in patients with CMA was -0.6. In 10 cases, the Z score was less than the -1 SD value. On the basis of the Z score, CMA patients were divided into two groups. The PTH concentration was significantly elevated in the group with lower Z score (2.24 pmol/L vs. 1.16 pmol/L; P< 0.03). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that, in children with CMA who are on a cow milk-free diet, slight disturbances of bone mineralization can be observed by osteodensitometry.

Serum immunoglobulin E, IgA, and IgG antibodies to different cow's milk proteins in children with cow's milk allergy: association with prognosis and clinical manifestations.

Diverse pathogenic mechanisms elicit different clinical manifestations in cow's milk allergy (CMA). Our aim was to determine the concentration of serum immunoglobulin levels to different cow's milk proteins in patients with CMA and to determine how these values were related to clinical symptoms and prognosis. Fifty children (mean age 10.9 months, range: 1-34 months) with previously confirmed CMA were enrolled in this study. All had various clinical manifestations of CMA, including gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory symptoms. At the diagnosis of CMA the serum total and the milk-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E values were measured by enzyme immunoassay and fluoroimmunoassay, respectively, while the relative levels of serum IgA and IgG antibodies against different cow's milk proteins were determined by a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were compared to those of 30 non-atopic age-matched control children. On average, after 9.2 months (range 2-31 months) on a milk-free diet, a repeated challenge was performed in 38 children. At the re-challenge, 12 patients had clinical symptoms while the remaining 26 children were symptom-free. The IgG antibody level to bovine serum albumin (BSA) was significantly lower in the patients than in the controls (median: 0.36 vs. 2.94, p < 0.01). There was a close correlation among all individual IgA and IgG antibodies to different cow's milk proteins. The anti-alpha-casein IgG level (of 2.10) in children with a positive reaction at the re-challenge was significantly higher than in those with a negative reaction (0.89) (p < 0.05). The total IgE serum concentration was also significantly higher in those who had symptoms at the re-challenge compared to those who did not have any reaction at this time (22.9 vs. 6.8 kU/l, geometric mean, p < 0.02). There was no association between the clinical manifestations and the IgG and IgA antibody levels to the cow's milk proteins studied, except for the anti-BSA IgA level, which was higher in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms. The serum total IgE and anti-alpha-casein IgG levels could have prognostic values; their increase at the beginning of the disease may indicate the development of tolerance to cow's milk only at a later age and after a longer duration of CMA. However, as there is considerable overlap among the values observed in different groups of patients, there is a limitation of these tests for predicting the prognosis.