Re: "COVID-19: A Redox Disease-What a Stress Pandemic Can Teach Us About Resilience and What We May Learn from the Reactive Species Interactome About Its Treatment" by Cumpstey et al.

Cumpstey et al. (Antioxid Redox Signal 2021;10.1089/ars.2021.0017) have thoroughly reviewed the changes to the redox biology that determine individual resilience against COVID-19, and that hint at future treatment regimes. Verd and Verd question whether paracetamol, in the words of Cumpstey et al., "has the potential to overwhelm the body's ability to cope and maintain homeostasis" in COVID-19 patients. In response to this letter, the authors of Cumpstey et al. (Feelisch, Cumpstey, Clarka, Santolinic, and Jacksondargue) argue that what matters for human resilience against SARS-CoV-2 and other stressors is not simply determined by what is ingested/inhaled but also by how these substances can be handled by the body. The ability to cope with competing demands is determined by the extent to which the building blocks essential for cell/organ protection, function, adjustment, and healing can continue to be made available in sufficient quantities. To this end, dietary quality and nutrient status are fundamental determinants of the metabolic background against which all of these factors (including over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol) operate and either support or compromise the balanced functioning of the reactive species interactome.

Eficacia de las perfusiones de lidocaína en la fibromialgia / Efficacy of lidocaine perfusions in fibromyalgia: a prospective cohort study

INTRODUCCIÓN: La fibromialgia se define como un síndrome de dolor crónico benigno caracterizado por dolor generalizado, fatiga, alteración del sueño, ansiedad y depresión, y en muchas ocasiones una respuesta al tratamiento insuficiente y frustrante que obliga a la comunidad médica a un esfuerzo continuo en la búsqueda de un tratamiento óptimo. Hemos evaluado el efecto de la lidocaína intravenosa en perfusión sobre las diferentes características de la fibromialgia. MÉTODOS: Después de la aprobación del comité de ética de nuestro hospital y el consentimiento informado de cada paciente, se incluyeron 62 pacientes con criterio de fibromialgia según la American College of Rheumatology. Se realizaron perfusión de lidocaína a dosis creciente desde 2 mg/kg hasta 5 mg/kg durante 10 días. En todos los casos se rellenaron los siguientes cuestionarios en el día 0 (pretratamiento), día 10 (postratamiento) día 30 y día 90: Health Survey SF-12 (SF-12), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Big Five Inventory (BFI), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Medical Outcomes Sleep Scale (MOS), Patient Improvement Expectations (EXPEC). RESULTADOS: De los 62 pacientes, 9 abandonaron el estudio por efectos adversos intolerables y 5 se perdieron o no completaron los cuestionarios en los siguientes meses. Finalmente completaron el estudio 48 pacientes, 46 mujeres y 2 hombres con una edad media de 55 (36-70) años. Encontramos una mejoría en los cuestionarios BPI, BFI y BDI-II en el día 10 que no se mantienen a los 30 días. DISCUSIÓN: En nuestro estudio el tratamiento con perfusiones de lidocaína en pacientes con fibromialgia objetivó una buena eficacia inicial que no se mantuvo con el paso del tiempo

INTRODUCTION: Fibromyalgia is defined as a pain syndrome characterized by generalized chronic pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression and, at times, an insufficient and frustrating treatment response. It is a benign condition chronically suffered by many patients, which forces the medical community on an ongoing search for an optimal treatment. We evaluated the effect of intravenous lidocaine on the different characteristics of fibromyalgia. METHOD: This is a prospective, longitudinal study. We recorded data for 48 patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome according with the American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR 1990). Patients with abnormal electrocardiogram or abnormal blood electrolytes were excluded. Included cases received an increasing dose of 2 mg/kg up until 5 mg/kg of an intravenous lidocaine perfusion during 10 days. All included cases filled the following questionnaires at day 0 (pre-treatment), day 10 (post-treatment) day 30 and day 90: Health Survey SF-12 (SF-12), Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Big Five Inventory (BFI), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II), Medical Outcomes Sleep Scale (MOS), Patient Improvement Expectations (EXPEC). RESULTS: 48 cases were recorded, 46 were female and 2 were male, the median age was 55 (36-70). We found improvement in pain, fatigue and psychological attitude at 10 days that disappears at 30 days. DISCUSSION: The treatment with infusion of intravenous lidocaine at these doses on this set of patients did not modify the clinical characteristics of fibromyalgia as a sustained manner