[Hematological indices associated with mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19]. / Índices hematológicos asociados con mortalidad en pacientes críticos con COVID-19.

Background: The COVID-19 disease has represented one of the most important threats to health. The most severe form is acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The inflammatory response can cause hematologic changes. Objective: To determine the association between the Neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the mean platelet volume (MPV) associated with mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19 and ARDS. Material and methods: A retrospective study was carried out in an intensive care unit (ICU) in a public hospital, with patients in critical condition due to COVID-19 and on mechanical ventilation. The clinical characteristics of admission and severity of the disease were recorded. The end point was the ICU discharge condition. Results: 162 subjects were gathered, 103 were men, with a mean age of 54.54 ± 13.53 years. 66.7% died in the ICU. The NLR had an area under the curve (aROC) of 0.62, with a cut-off point for mortality of > 7.04, sensitivity of 94.4%, specificity of 29.63%. The VPM had an aROC of 0.65 with a cut-off point > 9.5, sensitivity of 30.84%, and specificity of 92.59%; finally, the APACHE II had an aROC of 0.67 with a cut-off point > 14, sensitivity of 51.4% and specificity of 80%. The NLR presented an odds ratio (OR) of 5.02, the VPM 2.06 and the APACHE II score 1.16. Conclusions: NLR, MPV, and APACHE II at ICU admission are associated with mortality for critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Introducción: la enfermedad por COVID-19 ha representado una de las amenazas más importantes para la salud. La forma más grave es el síndrome de insuficiencia respiratoria aguda (SIRA). La respuesta inflamatoria puede ocasionar cambios hematológicos. Objetivo: determinar la asociación entre el Índice neutrófilo/linfocito (INL) y el volumen plaquetario medio (VPM) asociado con la mortalidad en pacientes críticos con COVID-19 y SIRA. Material y métodos: se hizo un estudio de corte retrospectivo en una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) de un hospital público, con pacientes en estado crítico por COVID y en ventilación mecánica. Se registraron las características clínicas de ingreso y severidad de la enfermedad. El punto final fue la condición de egreso de la UCI. Resultados: se reunieron 162 sujetos, 103 fueron hombres, con edad promedio de 54.54 ± 13.53 años. El 66.7% murieron en la UCI. El INL tuvo un área bajo la curva (aROC) de 0.62, con un punto de corte para mortalidad > 7.04, sensibilidad del 94.4% y especificidad del 29.63%. El VPM tuvo una aROC de 0.65 con un punto de corte > 9.5, sensibilidad de 30.84% y especificidad de 92.59%; finalmente, el APACHE II tuvo una ROC de 0.67, con un punto de corte > 14, sensibilidad de 51.4% y especificidad de 80%. El INL presentó una razón de momios (RM) de 5.02, el VPM una de 2.06 y el puntaje APACHE II una de 1.16. Conclusiones: el INL, el VPM y el APACHE II al ingreso a la UCI están asociados con la mortalidad para los pacientes críticos con COVID-19.

Potential biomarkers for fatal outcome prognosis in a cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with pre-existing comorbidities.

The difficulty in predicting fatal outcomes in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impacts the general morbidity and mortality due to severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 infection, as it wears out the hospital services that care for these patients. Unfortunately, in several of the candidates for prognostic biomarkers proposed, the predictive power is compromised when patients have pre-existing comorbidities. A cohort of 147 patients hospitalized for severe COVID-19 was included in a descriptive, observational, single-center, and prospective study. Patients were recruited during the first COVID-19 pandemic wave (April-November 2020). Data were collected from the clinical history whereas immunophenotyping by multiparameter flow cytometry analysis allowed us to assess the expression of surface markers on peripheral leucocyte. Patients were grouped according to the outcome in survivors or non-survivors. The prognostic value of leucocyte, cytokines or HLA-DR, CD39, and CD73 was calculated. Hypertension and chronic renal failure but not obesity and diabetes were conditions more frequent among the deceased patient group. Mixed hypercytokinemia, including inflammatory (IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines, was more evident in deceased patients. In the deceased patient group, lymphopenia with a higher neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) value was present. HLA-DR expression and the percentage of CD39+ cells were higher than non-COVID-19 patients but remained similar despite the outcome. Receiver operating characteristic analysis and cutoff value of NLR (69.6%, 9.4), percentage NLR (pNLR; 71.1%, 13.6), and IL-6 (79.7%, 135.2 pg/mL). The expression of HLA-DR, CD39, and CD73, as many serum cytokines (other than IL-6) and chemokines levels do not show prognostic potential, were compared to NLR and pNLR values.

[Ketamine as a treatment of bronchospasm due to an anaphylaxis. A case report]. / Ketamina como tratamiento de broncoespasmo asociado a anafilaxia. Reporte de un caso.

Background: Ketamine is used in intravenous anesthesia for the maintenance in the general anesthesia. It has characteristics to prevent the difficult of breathing due to bronchospasm, as well as the delivery of histamine associated with asthmatic attack. These effects come from the direct action in the bronchial muscle, as well as from the potentiation of its catecholamines, which is why its use is very controversial, given that there are not enough trials to back it up. Moreover, the effect of ketamine on bronchospasm due to anaphylactic reaction has not been studied. The election treatment is epinephrine and there are factors associated with its use. The objective was to present the case of a patient with a history of allergic reaction to midazolam, who presented bronchospasm due to the administration of this drug, and who received unconventional treatment with positive outcomes. Clinical case: We present the case of a young female with a history of allergies to medicines, specifically to benzodiazepines, who presented bronchospasm and oxygen saturation drop after receiving a dose of midazolam into her eye while she was working. The use of ketamine was proposed after adrenaline, a beta-agonist, inhaled anticholinergics, a steroid and antihistamine drugs were used. Conclusion: Trials are needed in order to demonstrate the efficacy of ketamine in this particular context; however, the outcome in this case was positive.

Introducción: la ketamina es utilizada en anestesia intravenosa en el mantenimiento en la anestesia general. Su efecto cuenta con propiedades para prevenir la dificultad respiratoria asociada a broncoconstricción y la secreción de histamina asociada a crisis asmática. Estos efectos derivan de la acción directa en el músculo bronquial, así como de la potencialización de las catecolaminas, por lo que su uso muy controversial, ya que hasta el día de hoy no hay suficientes estudios que lo sustenten. Además, el efecto de la ketamina en el broncoespasmo debido a anafilaxia no está estudiado. El tratamiento de elección es la epinefrina y hay factores que están asociados en el éxito de esta. El objetivo fue presentar el caso de una paciente con antecedente de alergia a midazolam, que presentó broncoespasmo al estar en contacto con este y a la que se le administró tratamiento no convencional con resultados favorables. Caso clínico: presentamos el caso de una mujer joven con antecedentes de alergias a medicamentos, específicamente a benzodiacepinas, la cual presentó broncoespasmo y caída de la saturación posteriores al contacto con midazolam intraocular mientras laboraba. Se propuso la utilización de ketamina posterior a adrenalina, betaagonista y anticolinérgicos inhalados, esteroide y antihistamínico. Conclusión: es necesario hacer estudios que demuestren la eficacia de la ketamina en este contexto en particular; en este caso, los resultados fueron positivos.

A Case of Fatal Rhino-Orbital Mucormycosis Associated With New Onset Diabetic Ketoacidosis and COVID-19.

Mucormycosis is an invasive fungal infection, often acute and extremely severe, occurring in patients with an underlying condition. Coinfection in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been reported, often bacterial. A 24-year-old female is presented with acute fatal rhino-orbital mucormycosis and COVID-19. We report one of the first cases of rhino-orbital mucormycosis and COVID-19. With this case, we highlight the importance of considering mycotic coinfection in COVID-19 patients with diabetes.