Pentoxifylline decreases serum LDH levels and increases lymphocyte count in COVID-19 patients: Results from an external pilot study.

We have previously hypothesized that pentoxifylline could be beneficial for the treatment of COVID-19 given its potential to restore the immune response equilibrium, reduce the impact of the disease on the endothelium and alveolar epithelial cells, and improve the circulatory function.Serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and lymphocyte count are accessible biomarkers that correlate with the severity of COVID-19, the need for hospitalization, and mortality, reflecting the host immune response's contribution to the seriousness of SARS-CoV-2 infection. We carried out this external pilot study on 38 patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 to test the effect pentoxifylline on parameters such as LDH, lymphocyte count, days of hospitalization, mortality, and proportion of patients requiring intubation. Twenty-six patients were randomized to receive 400 mg of pentoxifylline t.i.d. plus standard therapy (pentoxifylline group), while the rest received the standard treatment (control group). Linear regression models were built for statistically significant parameters. Pentoxifylline treatment was associated with a 64.25% increase (CI95% 11.83, 116.68) in lymphocyte count and a 29.61% decrease (CI95% 15.11, 44.10) in serum LDH. Although a trend towards reduced days of hospitalization, mortality, and proportion of patients requiring intubation was observed, no statistically significant difference was found for these parameters. Our findings open the possibility of pentoxifylline being repositioned as a drug for COVID-19 treatment with the advantages of a proven safety profile, availability, and no risk of immunosuppression; however, this evidence needs to be confirmed in a pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

[Hyperglycemia as a risk factor for mortality in critically ill neonates]. / La hiperglucemia como factor predictor de mortalidad en neonatos críticamente enfermos.

BACKGROUND: The sick neonate is susceptible to uncontrolled hyperglycemia by several factors. Our objective was to determine the mortality-predictive role of hyperglycemia in critically ill neonates. METHODS: A cohort study was conducted in neonates admitted during the first hour of life in the intensive care unit. Prenatal and perinatal variables were recorded including ventilatory management, comorbidities, arterial blood gas, blood chemistry and blood count. Serum glucose greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL and greater than or equal to 180 mg/dL was considered consistent with hyperglycemia in neonates born at term and preterm infants, respectively. The children were followed until discharge from the unit. Measures of central tendency and dispersion for quantitative variables and frequencies for qualitative variables were obtained, as well as Kaplan-Meier curves. Association test using the chi-square test for exposed and non-exposed groups and Cox regression analysis was performed and risk calculation was made using the hazard ratio. RESULTS: Out of 146 patients, 16 died (10.7 %). Most common causes were respiratory distress syndrome, perinatal asphyxia, meconium aspiration and sepsis. Association was found between hyperglycemia and chest compression, metabolic acidemia, hyperlactatemia, mechanical ventilatory support, intraventricular hemorrhage and death. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperglycemia was an independent risk factor for the prediction of death, with a likelihood of death of 56.8 % when it was present.

INTRODUCCIÓN: el neonato enfermo es susceptible al descontrol de la glucosa por varios factores. Nuestro objetivo fue determinar el papel predictor de mortalidad de la hiperglucemia en neonatos críticamente enfermos. MÉTODOS: se realizó un estudio de cohorte en neonatos que durante la primera hora de vida ingresaron a cuidados intensivos. Se registraron variables prenatales, perinatales, manejo ventilatorio, comorbilidades, gasometría arterial, química sanguínea y biometría hemática. Se consideró que la glucosa sérica mayor o igual a 126 y mayor o igual a 180 mg/dL indicaba hiperglucemia en los neonatos a término y en los pretérmino, respectivamente. Se realizó seguimiento hasta el egreso de la unidad. Se obtuvieron medidas de dispersión y de tendencia central para las variables cuantitativas y frecuencias para las cualitativas, así como curvas de Kaplan-Meier. Se realizó prueba de asociación por chi cuadrada para los grupos expuestos y no expuestos, análisis de regresión de Cox y cálculo de riesgo por hazard ratio. RESULTADOS: de 146 pacientes, fallecieron 16 (10.7 %). Las principales causas fueron síndrome de dificultad respiratoria, asfixia perinatal, aspiración de meconio y sepsis. Se encontró asociación entre hiperglucemia y compresión torácica, acidemia metabólica, hiperlactatemia, asistencia mecánica ventilatoria, hemorragia intraventricular y muerte. CONCLUSIONES: la hiperglucemia fue un factor de riesgo independiente para predecir muerte, con probabilidad de muerte de 56.8 % cuando se encontró presente.