Gender-based disparities in COVID-19 patient outcomes.

Studies reported to date suggest that men with COVID-19 have more severe disease and worse outcomes when compared with women. The explanation for this finding is not entirely clear. The goal of this study was to compare clinical characteristics, inflammatory biomarkers and clinical outcome between men and women. This retrospective study included patients with COVID-19 admitted to 10 Virginia hospitals from January 1, 2020, to June 15, 2020. Demographic data, comorbidities, and inflammatory markers, including C reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, ferritin, and the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio, as well as patient outcomes, were compared between men and women. During the study period, 701 patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 infection were admitted. The patient's mean age was 61±17 years. There were 370 men (52.8%). There was no difference in age, racial distribution, and comorbidities in the male patients compared with the female patients. However, both the baseline and peak levels of CRP and ferritin were significantly higher in men as compared with women. While the baseline D-dimer was similar between the sexes, men had a significantly higher maximal D-dimer. Men had evidence of greater disease severity, with a significantly greater admission to the intensive care unit and borderline higher hospital mortality. Our study supports the observation that COVID-19 causes more severe disease in men. The greater disease severity in men was not due to the effect of age or comorbidities; however, in keeping with experimental studies, men had evidence of a heightened inflammatory response, likely contributing to disease severity.

Hydrocortisone, ascorbic acid and thiamine for sepsis: Is the jury out?

Sepsis and septic shock remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients admitted in the intensive care unit. Diabetes is a major risk factor for the development of sepsis. The global mortality of sepsis remains high, despite significant interventions and guidelines. It has been known for decades that patients with sepsis have reduced levels of antioxidants, most notably vitamin C. Furthermore, experimental data has demonstrated multiple beneficial effects of vitamin C in sepsis. In addition, corticosteroids and thiamine may have synergistic biological effects together with vitamin C. Preliminary data suggests that therapy with hydrocortisone, ascorbic acid and thiamine improves the outcome of patients with sepsis with the potential to save millions of lives. However, this intervention has met with much resistance and has not been widely adopted. Ultimately, we await the final jury verdict on this simple, safe and cheap intervention.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis: treatment with low-dose corticosteroids, vitamin C and thiamine.

We present the case of a 33-year-old woman with no significant past medical history who was admitted to an outside hospital for the abrupt onset of fevers, malaise and a diffuse mucocutaneous rash. Her constellation of symptoms and presentation were most consistent with a diagnosis of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis overlap syndrome secondary to ibuprofen exposure. Her rash continued to worsen and she was transferred to our medical intensive care unit (ICU), where broad-spectrum antibiotics were discontinued and she was treated with supportive care as well as 'low-dose' intravenous hydrocortisone, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and thiamine (HAT therapy). After starting this therapy, the patient demonstrated a dramatic response with rapid improvement of her cutaneous and mucosal lesions. She was tolerating a diet provided by the hospital on day 4 and was discharged from the ICU a few days later.

ARDS complicating pustular psoriasis: treatment with low-dose corticosteroids, vitamin C and thiamine.

We report the case of a 45-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of psoriasis, admitted to our Medical intensive care unit following the acute onset of diffuse rash and progressive dyspnoea and hypoxaemia requiring escalating respiratory support (continuous positive airway pressure of 10 cm H2O). Her chest X-ray was consistent with findings of non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. Echocardiogram was normal. Dermatology considered her skin lesions to be consistent with psoriasis vulgaris with pustular flare. In the absence of an identifiable cause for her respiratory failure, she was diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to her psoriatic flare. Treatment with cyclosporine was initiated together with low-dose systemic corticosteroids, intravenous vitamin C and thiamine. The patient made a dramatic recovery being weaned to nasal cannulae within 24 hours after the initiation of this treatment protocol and was discharged home a few days later.

Spontaneous subclavian artery dissection: a pain in the neck diagnosis.

Isolated subclavian artery dissection is a very rare condition in the absence of trauma or procedures. A 36-year-old woman with a history significant for uncontrolled hypertension presented with a sudden onset of left shoulder and neck pain that woke the patient from sleep. A CT angiogram of the chest revealed a left subclavian artery dissection. The patient was admitted to the hospital for blood pressure control.

Life-threatening piperacillin-induced immune haemolysis in a patient with cystic fibrosis.

We present a 24-year-old man with a history significant for cystic fibrosis and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus who developed anaemia in the setting of piperacillin-induced immune haemolysis. This case provided a diagnostic challenge, a rare association of piperacillin-induced haemolysis in those suffering from cystic fibrosis.

Pheochromocytoma presenting as acute decompensated heart failure reversed with medical therapy.

A 26-year-old woman presented to hospital with acute chest pain, hypertension, tachycardia and an elevated serum creatinine. She developed respiratory distress requiring endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. She progressed to multiorgan failure due to decompensated congestive heart failure. Echocardiography demonstrated global hypokinesis and an ejection fraction of <10%. Her cardiac function improved with fluid resuscitation and ß blockade, and she was eventually discharged home. She was readmitted a few days later with pancreatitis after presenting with nausea, abdominal pain and hypertension. During hospitalisation she had paroxysms of headache, nausea and diaphoresis associated with hypertension and tachycardia. A CT scan of her abdomen revealed an adrenal mass and serum metanephrine studies confirmed the diagnosis of pheochromocytoma. After fluid resuscitation and sympathetic blockade her ejection fraction improved to 55%. The patient underwent an uneventful adrenalectomy and made a complete recovery.

Chronic acetaminophen ingestion resulting in severe anion gap metabolic acidosis secondary to 5-oxoproline accumulation: an under diagnosed phenomenon.

Anion gap metabolic acidosis is commonly caused by lactic acidosis, ketoacidosis, and ingestion of methanol, salicylates, ethylene glycol or accumulation of organic/inorganic acids. However, rare causes of metabolic acidosis from enzyme defects, such as disturbances in the γ-glutamyl cycle, are being reported in higher frequencies in the adult population. Such disturbances cause an accumulation of 5-oxoproline and ultimately an anion gap metabolic acidosis. These disturbances are often associated with acetaminophen in the setting of certain risk factors such as sepsis, malnutrition, liver disease, female gender, pregnancy or renal failure.

A pituitary abscess masquerading as recurrent hypernatremia and aseptic meningitis.

Pituitary abscess is a rare condition. In the setting of multiple surgical interventions, the risk of its development increases. A 49-year-old man presented with episodes of altered mental status. He had two surgeries for a recurrent suprasellar arachnoid cyst. The second surgery was complicated by a persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak that required two repairs following which he developed panhypopituitarism and central diabetes insipidus. Twelve months after his last surgery he was diagnosed with aseptic meningitis. This was followed by recurrent hospitalisations for severe hypernatremia blamed on poor medication compliance. He was subsequently hospitalised for the evaluation of a febrile illness. Brain MRI showed ventriculitis and enhancement of the sella. Exploratory surgery revealed a purulent collection in the sella and a mucosal graft which had been used to repair the CSF leak. After drainage of pus and replacement of the graft he recovered completely but requiring life-long hormonal replacement.

Life-threatening ANCA-positive vasculitis associated with rickettsial infection.

We present a 47-year-old Caucasian fire fighter who developed multisystem organ failure in the setting of a positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (myeloperoxidase) as well as confirmed Rocky Mountain spotted fever by skin biopsy PCR. This case provided a diagnostic challenge, a rare association of a Rickettsia infection and autoimmune vasculitis as well as a unique management approach.