External validation of the CHEDDAR score for suspected pulmonary embolism in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection in an independent cohort.

The accuracy of the classic scores that help stratify the pretest clinical probability of pulmonary embolism (PE) in SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) is low. Therefore, to estimate the risk of PE in these patients, a new set of guidelines must be established. The recently published CHEDDAR score proposes a new diagnostic strategy to reduce the use of computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in non-critically ill SARS-COV-2 patients with suspected PE. According to the nomogram, patients are segregated into low-risk (< 182 points) or high-risk (≥ 182 points) based on the best cut-off value to discard PE in the original cohort. We aimed to externally validate this diagnostic strategy in an independent cohort. We analyzed data from two retrospective cohorts of hospitalized non-critically ill COVID-19 patients who underwent a CTPA due to suspicion for PE. CHEDDAR score was applied. As per the CHEDDAR nomogram, patients were classified as having a low or high clinical pre-test probability. Of the 270 patients included, 69 (25.5%) had PE. Applying the CHEDDAR score, 182 (67.4%) patients could have had PE excluded without imaging. Among 58 patients classified as having high clinical pre-test probability, 39 (67.2%) had PE. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and AUC were 56%, 90%, 67%, 85%, and 0.783 (95% CI 0.71-0.85), respectively. We provide external validation of the CHEDDAR score in an independent cohort. Even though the CHEDDAR score showed good discrimination capacity, caution is required in patients classified as having low clinical pre-test probability with a D-dimer value > 3000 ng/mL, and a RALE score ≥ 4.

El síndrome de Eaton Lambert: una presentación clínica inusual que suele preceder al diagnóstico oncológico / Eaton lambert syndrome: a rare clinical presentation that usually precedes oncological diagnosis

El síndrome de Eaton Lambert es un trastorno de tipo autoinmune que afecta a la unión neuromuscular. Cursa con debilidad muscular proximal y simétrica y en el 60% de los casos se asocia a una neoplasia subyacente. Dado que esta debilidad es de inicio insidioso, los pacientes suelen consultar inicialmente a su especialista de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria. Reconocer esta entidad es fundamental para el diagnóstico precoz de la enfermedad oncológica ya que habitualmente precede en meses a los síntomas locales derivados de la enfermedad tumoral. El médico o médica de Atención Primaria tiene un papel fundamental en el adelanto diagnóstico y debe realizar una derivación precoz al medio hospitalario para completar el estudio. Presentamos un caso clínico de síndrome de Eaton Lambert paraneoplásico en el contexto de un carcinoma de pulmón de células pequeñas que trata de ilustrar esta cronología y abordar el proceso diagnóstico y terapéutico.(AU)

Eaton Lambert syndrome is an autoimmune disorder that involves the neuromuscular junction. Clinical course includes proximal muscular weakness and symmetry. In 60% of cases this is associated with underlying neoplasia. Given that this weakness is of insidious onset, patients usually initially consult their family doctor. Recognizing this condition is essential for early diagnosis of oncological disease as it usually occurs a few months prior to local symptoms arising from tumour disease. The family doctor plays a crucial role in early diagnosis and should refer early to hospital to complete the study. We report a case study of paraneoplastic Eaton Lambert syndrome in the context of a small cell lung carcinoma that tries to depict this chronology, in addition to tackling the diagnostic and therapeutic process.(AU)