Pilot study: specific immunotherapy in patients with Papular urticaria by Cimex lectularius.

Summary: Background. Papular urticaria is a chronic allergic reaction induced by insect bites. In México the most common causative arthropods reported are bed bugs, fleas and mosquitoes. Approximately 70% of people who are bitten by Cimex lectularius experience hypersensitive reactions, papular urticaria, extensive erythema, urticaria, and even anaphylaxis has been reported, pruritus is the major complaint, impairing quality of life and sleep. Immunotherapy has been used in mosquito bite papular urticaria resulting in improvement of skin lesions and possibly protecting against reactions to subsequent exposures to mosquitoes. Methods. Children, 4-10 years of age, with recurrent papular urticaria due to bedbugs not responsive to multiple treatments were included. An initial allergy assessment included clinical history, skin prick test (SPT), and specific IgE sensitisation was performed to confirmed bedbug sensitization. Twenty children were randomized to receive subcutaneous specific immunotherapy (SSI) with whole body bed bug extract or conventional treatment. The treatment was carried out over twelve months and the response was assessed using the Dermatology Quality of Life Index (DLQ), the immunotherapy satisfaction questionnaire (ESPIA questionnaire) and the 12-Item Pruritus Severity Scale (12-IPSS). The results from both the treated and control groups were compared. Results. The twenty patients were randomized, 12 to receive immunotherapy and 8 to receive conventional treatment for 12 months. Quality of life improved with a reduction in the DLQI score of 19.83 in the immunotherapy group versus 9 in the conventional treatment group (p = 0.03). Itch improved with a reduction in the 12-IPSS of 16.5 in the immunotherapy group versus 9.63 in the conventional treatment group (p = 0.02). After twelve months of treatment, all 12 patients who received immunotherapy, reported a decrease of persistent cutaneous lesions but the 8 on conventional treatment did not. A mean score of 95.75 (SD 3.3) was recorded for satisfaction with immunotherapy. Conclusions. Patients with papular urticaria by Cimex lectularius receiving allergen immunotherapy for 1 year showed a significant improvement compared with baseline and patients receiving conventional treatment regarding skin lesions, quality of life impairment, intensity of pruritus and satisfaction with immunotherapy.

[CT findings in survivors and non-survivors of COVID-19 and clinical usefulness of a CT scoring system]. / Hallazgos tomográficos entre sobrevivientes y no-sobrevivientes con COVID-19 y utilidad clínica de una puntuación de tomografía torácica.

Background: Many patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been diagnosed with computed tomography (CT). A prognostic tool based on CT findings could be useful for predicting death from COVID-19. Objectives: To compare the chest CT findings of patients who survived COVID-19 versus those of patients who died of COVID-19 and to determine the usefulness the clinical usefulness of a CT scoring system for COVID-19. Methods: We included 124 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections who were hospitalized between April 1, 2020 and July 25, 2020. Results: Whereas ground-glass opacities were the most common characteristic finding in survivors (75%), crazy paving was the most characteristic finding in non-survivors (65%). Atypical findings were present in 46% of patients. The chest CT score was directly proportional to mortality; a score ≥ 18 was the best cutoff for predicting death, yielding 70% sensitivity (95%CI: 47%-87%). Conclusions: Our results suggest that atypical lesions are more prevalent in this cohort. The chest CT score had high sensitivity for predicting hospital mortality.

CT findings in survivors and non-survivors of COVID-19 and clinical usefulness of a CT scoring system.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been diagnosed with computed tomography (CT). A prognostic tool based on CT findings could be useful for predicting death from COVID-19. OBJECTIVES: To compare the chest CT findings of patients who survived COVID-19 versus those of patients who died of COVID-19 and to determine the usefulness the clinical usefulness of a CT scoring system for COVID-19. METHODS: We included 124 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections who were hospitalized between April 1, 2020 and July 25, 2020. RESULTS: Whereas ground-glass opacities were the most common characteristic finding in survivors (75%), crazy paving was the most characteristic finding in non-survivors (65%). Atypical findings were present in 46% of patients. The chest CT score was directly proportional to mortality; a score ≥18 was the best cutoff for predicting death, yielding 70% sensitivity (95%CI: 47%-87%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that atypical lesions are more prevalent in this cohort. The chest CT score had high sensitivity for predicting hospital mortality.

Hallazgos tomográficos entre sobrevivientes y no-sobrevivientes con COVID-19 y utilidad clínica de una puntuación de tomografía torácica / CT findings in survivors and non-survivors of COVID-19 and clinical usefulness of a CT scoring system

Antecedentes: Muchos pacientes con enfermedad por coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) han sido diagnosticados mediante tomografía computarizada (TC). Una herramienta de pronóstico obtenida de esta podría ser un predictor útil de mortalidad.ObjetivosEvaluar los hallazgos de la TC de tórax entre los pacientes sobrevivientes y no sobrevivientes con COVID-19 y la utilidad clínica de una puntuación de TC. Métodos: Del 1 de abril al 25 de julio de 2020 se incluyeron 124 pacientes hospitalizados con infección confirmada por SARS-CoV-2. Resultados:Las opacidades en vidrio deslustrado fueron el principal hallazgo típico en los sobrevivientes (75%), mientras que el patrón de “crazy paving” o empedrado fue el principal hallazgo típico en los no sobrevivientes (65%). Los hallazgos atípicos estuvieron presentes hasta en el 46% de los pacientes. Hubo una relación directamente proporcional entre la puntuación de la TC de tórax y la mortalidad, teniendo en cuenta un punto de corte óptimo de la puntuación de la TC de 18 para predecir la muerte con una sensibilidad del 70% [intervalo de confianza (IC) del 95%: 47%-87%]. Conclusiones: Nuestros datos sugieren una mayor prevalencia de lesiones atípicas en esta cohorte. La puntuación de la TC de tórax tuvo una alta sensibilidad para predecir la mortalidad hospitalaria.(AU)

Background: Many patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been diagnosed with computed tomography (CT). A prognostic tool based on CT findings could be useful for predicting death from COVID-19. Objectives: To compare the chest CT findings of patients who survived COVID-19 versus those of patients who died of COVID-19 and to determine the usefulness the clinical usefulness of a CT scoring system for COVID-19. Methods: We included 124 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections who were hospitalized between April 1, 2020 and July 25, 2020. Results: Whereas ground-glass opacities were the most common characteristic finding in survivors (75%), crazy paving was the most characteristic finding in non-survivors (65%). Atypical findings were present in 46% of patients. The chest CT score was directly proportional to mortality; a score≥18 was the best cutoff for predicting death, yielding 70% sensitivity (95%CI: 47%-87%). Conclusions: Our results suggest that atypical lesions are more prevalent in this cohort. The chest CT score had high sensitivity for predicting hospital mortality.(AU)