Clinical Medicine Insights-Circulatory Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Pseudo-Kussmaul's Sign in Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia: A Prospective, Cohort Study.","authors":"Benny Jose,&nbsp;Sameer Rane,&nbsp;Hiren Kevadiya,&nbsp;Gajendra Dubey,&nbsp;Shomu Bohora,&nbsp;Jayesh Prajapati","doi":"10.1177/11795484231152985","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/11795484231152985","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aims: </strong>To study the respiratory variation of right atrial (RA) pressures at baseline and during atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Of the 23 patients screened, 16 participants with typical AVNRT were included in the study. After ensuring adequate hydration, baseline RA pressures were measured as the height of 'a' and 'v' waves. The patients were asked to take deep breaths, and the measurements were taken in both inspiration and expiration.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 16 participants, 14(87.5%) showed a normal fall in the height of 'a' and 'v' waves with inspiration, 1(6.25%) showed no change and 1(6.25%) showed a rise in height at baseline, <i>p</i> <0.01. During induced AVNRT, the 'a' and 'v' wave heights increased in 8(50%), remained same in 6(37.5%) and showed a normal fall in 2(12.5%), <i>p</i> = 0.07 for 'a' waves and <i>p</i> = 0.09 for 'v' waves. When the magnitude and direction of change in 'a' and 'v' wave height at baseline was compared with AVNRT, it showed a significant difference with 13(81.25%) participants demonstrating positive <i>Pseudo-Kussmaul's sign</i>, <i>p</i> <0.01. Mean age was numerically higher in those with a more considerable inspiratory rise in RA pressures but was not statistically significant, χ²(2) = 3.1, <i>p</i> = 0.21.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong><i>Pseudo-Kussmaul's sign</i> does occur in a substantial number of patients during AVNRT. Clinical appreciation of this phenomenon is possible in half to three-fourth of patients, provided the mean RA pressures are low enough for the variation to be visible in the neck.</p>","PeriodicalId":44269,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Medicine Insights-Circulatory Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"11795484231152985"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/ec/f5/10.1177_11795484231152985.PMC9884952.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9194669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of an Early Warning System Protocol, for Patients Admitted to the Medical Floors with SARS-COV2 Pneumonia, on ICU Admission.","authors":"Seife Yohannes,&nbsp;Nitin Seam,&nbsp;Junfeng Sun,&nbsp;Joel McAlduff,&nbsp;Janet L Thorne,&nbsp;Susanne B Lara,&nbsp;Michael Keller","doi":"10.1177/11795484231156755","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/11795484231156755","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>COVID-19 placed a significant burden on the global healthcare system. Strain in critical care capacity has been associated with increased COVID-19-related ICU mortality. This study evaluates the impact of an early warning system and response team implemented on medical floors to safely triage and care for critically ill patients on the floor and preserve ICU capacity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study, comparing outcomes between intervention and control hospitals within a US eight-hospital urban network. Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia between April 13^th, 2020 and June 19^th, 2020 were included in the study, which was a time of a regional surge of COVID-19 admissions. An automated, electronic early warning protocol to identify patients with moderate-severe hypoxemia on the medical floors and implement early interventions was implemented at one of the eight hospitals (\"the intervention hospital\").</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 1024 patients, 403 (39%) were admitted to the intervention hospital and 621 (61%) were admitted to one of the control hospitals. Adjusted for potential confounders, patients at the intervention hospital were less likely to be admitted to the ICU (HR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.53, 1.000, <i>P</i> = .0499) compared to the control hospitals. Patients admitted from the floors to the ICU at the intervention hospital had shorter ICU stay (HR for ICU discharge: 1.74; 95% CI 1.21, 2.51, <i>P</i> = .003). There was no significant difference between intervention and control hospitals in need for mechanical ventilation (OR = 0.93; 95% CI 0.38, 2.31; <i>P</i> = .88) or hospital mortality (OR = 0.79; 95% CI 0.52, 1.18; <i>P</i> = .25).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A protocol to conserve ICU beds by implementing an early warning system with a dedicated response team to manage respiratory distress on the floors reduced ICU admission and was not associated with worse outcomes compared to hospitals that managed similar levels of respiratory distress in the ICU.</p>","PeriodicalId":44269,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Medicine Insights-Circulatory Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"11795484231156755"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/c0/67/10.1177_11795484231156755.PMC10034308.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9560581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role of Early Warning Scoring Systems NEWS and MEWS in the Acute Exacerbation of COPD.","authors":"Christina Triantafyllidou,&nbsp;Petros Effraimidis,&nbsp;Konstantinos Vougas,&nbsp;Jonas Agholme,&nbsp;Mirjam Schimanke,&nbsp;Karin Cederquist","doi":"10.1177/11795484231152305","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/11795484231152305","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are the most devastating events in the course of the disease. Our aim was to investigate the value of early warning scoring systems: National Early Warning Score (NEWS) and Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) in AECOPD. This is a prospective observational study of patients with AECOPD who were admitted at hospital. The NEWS and MEWS scores were registered at admission (NEWS-d1, MEWS-d1) and on the second day (NEWS-d2, MEWS-d2). A nasopharyngeal and sputum sample was taken for culture. Follow-up was done at 3 and 6 months after hospitalization. Any possible correlations between NEWS and MEWS and other parameters of COPD were explored. A cohort of 64 patients were included. In-hospital mortality was 4.7% while total mortality at 6 months was 26%. We did not find any significant correlation between in-hospital mortality and any of the scores but we could show a higher mortality and more frequent AECOPD at 6 months of follow-up for those with higher NEWS-d2. NEWS-d2 was associated with higher pCO₂ at presentation and a more frequent use of NIV. Higher NEWS-d1 and NEWS-d2 were predictive of a longer hospital stay. The presence of pathogens in the nasopharyngeal sample was related with a higher reduction of both scores on the second day. We therefore support the superiority of NEWS in the evaluation of hospitalized patients with AECOPD. A remaining high NEWS at the second day of hospital stay signals a high risk of hypercapnia and need of NIV but also higher mortality and more frequent exacerbations at 6 months after AECOPD.</p>","PeriodicalId":44269,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Medicine Insights-Circulatory Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"11795484231152305"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/17/19/10.1177_11795484231152305.PMC9884954.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9194668","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Nocardia farcinica</i> Pneumonia with Sepsis and a Bronchial Neoplasm in a Healthy Patient: A Case Report.","authors":"Shuangxia Dong,&nbsp;Qianding Lin,&nbsp;Xinjian Dai,&nbsp;Baoyi Zhang","doi":"10.1177/11795484221146370","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/11795484221146370","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>There are few reports on sepsis caused by infection with <i>Nocardia</i> in people with normal immune function, and there is no report on bronchial tumor caused by <i>Nocardia</i>. This paper describes a case of <i>Nocardia farcinica</i> pneumonia with sepsis and a bronchial neoplasm in a healthy patient.</p>","PeriodicalId":44269,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Medicine Insights-Circulatory Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"11795484221146370"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/67/ef/10.1177_11795484221146370.PMC9830566.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10519030","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tissue Factor and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Detecting Thromboembolic Complications in Diabetic Atherosclerotic Patients.","authors":"Tijen Alkan Bozkaya,&nbsp;Şanser Ateş,&nbsp;Ünsal Veli Üstündağ,&nbsp;Çağrı Çakıcı,&nbsp;İlknur Keskin,&nbsp;Pakize Yiğit,&nbsp;Ahmet Yiğitbaşı,&nbsp;Nesrin Emekli","doi":"10.1177/11795484231167737","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/11795484231167737","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Atherosclerosis, which is one of the leading causes of death all over the world, can create major or minor thromboembolic complications with the exponentially increasing diabetic status. Despite all the studies, the mechanism by which endothelial damage in atherosclerosis is triggered in diabetic setting is still not fully understood.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this study, tissue factor (TF), which is thought to act together in the formation of vasular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) and coagulopathy in diabetic atherosclerotic patients, may be an important indicator in this regard, a total of 100 cases who were undergone off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) which were at same risk group examined by dividing into diabetic status. Early postoperative process and biochemical parameters analyzed in terms of TF and VEGF-A levels measured before and after the operation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>TF and VEGF-A expression of the T1DM group were statistically high compared to non-diabetics. Significantly longer hospital stays with changes in TF and VEGF-A were found in patients in the diabetic group compared to pre- and postoperatively, respectively; TF (95% CI: 0.879-0.992; p = 0.025), VEGF-A (95% CI: 0.964-0.991; <i>p</i> = 0.001) and hospital stay (95% CI: 1.96-7.49; <i>p</i> = 0.0001). Preoperatively measured carotid intima-media thickness (CT) was higher in diabetics and was significantly associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), (r = 0.873). Surgical team and protocols were same and OPCAB procedures were routinely applied to all patients in our clinic. No minor or major events were observed in any of the cases.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>TF and VEGF-A values in patients with diabetic atherosclerosis may be important in the early detection of thromboembolic complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":44269,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Medicine Insights-Circulatory Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"11795484231167737"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/53/b7/10.1177_11795484231167737.PMC10126798.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9733650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diaphragmatic Dynamics and Thickness Parameters Assessed by Ultrasonography Predict Extubation Success in Critically Ill Patients.","authors":"Marlon Adrián Laguado-Nieto,&nbsp;Sandra Liliana Roberto-Avilán,&nbsp;Francisco Naranjo-Junoy,&nbsp;Héctor Julio Meléndez-Flórez,&nbsp;Ivan David Lozada-Martinez,&nbsp;Gonzalo Andrés Domínguez-Alvarado,&nbsp;Víctor Alfonso Campos-Castillo,&nbsp;Sergio Uriel Ríos-Orozco,&nbsp;Alexis Rafael Narváez-Rojas","doi":"10.1177/11795484231165940","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/11795484231165940","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>A frequent cause of weaning and extubation failure in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients is diaphragm muscle dysfunction. Ultrasound (US) evaluation of the diaphragm yields important data regarding its thickness (diaphragm thickening fraction [TFdi]) and its movement or excursion (diaphragmatic dynamics) that reveal the presence of diaphragmatic dysfunction.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Cross-sectional study, which included patients older than 18 years with invasive mechanical ventilation with an expected duration of more than 48 h, in a tertiary referral center in Colombia. The excursion of the diaphragm, inspiratory and expiratory thickness, and TFdi were evaluated by US. Prevalence and use of medications were evaluated, and the association with failure in ventilatory weaning and extubation was analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Sixty-one patients were included. The median age and APACHE IV score were 62.42 years and 78.23, respectively. The prevalence of diaphragmatic dysfunction (assessed by excursion and TFdi) was 40.98%. The sensibility, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for TFdi < 20% was 86%, 24%, 75%, and 40%, respectively, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.6. The ultrasonographic analysis of excursion of the diaphragm, inspiratory and expiratory thickness, and TFdi (>20%) allow in its set and with normal values, predict success or failure for the extubation with an area under the ROC curve of 0.87.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Diaphragmatic dynamics and thickness parameters together assessed by ultrasonography could predict the success of extubation in critically ill patients in Colombia, based on the finding of diaphragmatic dysfunction.</p>","PeriodicalId":44269,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Medicine Insights-Circulatory Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"11795484231165940"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/7f/4e/10.1177_11795484231165940.PMC10052899.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9611076","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors on the Course of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Developed During COVID-19 and Other Severe Respiratory Infections Under Hyperferritinemia Conditions: A Cohort Study.","authors":"Magda Rurua,&nbsp;Elena Pachkoria,&nbsp;Tamar Sanikidze,&nbsp;K Machvariani,&nbsp;George Ormocadze,&nbsp;Tinatin Jomidava,&nbsp;Diana Dzidziguri,&nbsp;Levan Ratiani","doi":"10.1177/11795484231180391","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/11795484231180391","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is not only the entry route of SARS-CoV-2 infection but also triggers a major mechanism of COVID-19 aggravation by promoting a hyperinflammatory state, leading to lung injury, hematological and immunological dysregulation. The impact of ACE2 inhibitors on the course of COVID-19 is still unclear. The effect of ACE2 inhibitors on the course of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) during COVID-19 and other severe respiratory infections in conditions of hyperferritinemia (HF) was investigated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A cohort study of critically ill patients with COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases (widespread infection, pneumonia) who underwent treatment in The Critical Care Unit of the First University Clinic (Tbilisi, Georgia) during the 2020-2021 years was conducted. The impact of the ACE2 inhibitors on the course of the ARDS developed during COVID-19 and other severe respiratory infections in conditions of different severity of HF was evaluated.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In COVID-19-infected (I) and uninfected (II) patients with ARDS, ACE2 inhibitors reduce the levels of Ang II, C reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimer (I: from 1508.07  ±  26.68 to 48.51  ±  24.35, from 233.92  ±  13.02 to 198.12  ±  11.88, from 7.88  ±  0.47 to 6.28  ±  0.43; II: from 1000.14  ±  149.49 to 46.23  ±  88.21, 226.48  ±  13.81 to 183.52  ±  17.32, from 6.39  ±  0.58 to 5.48  ±  0.69) at moderate HF and Ang II, CRP levels (I: from 1845.89  ±  89.37 to 49.64  ±  51.05, from 209.28  ±  14.41 to 175.37  ±  9.84; II: from 1753.29  ±  65.95 to 49.76  ±  55.74, 287.10  ±  20.50 to 214.71  ±  17.32) at severe HF, reduce interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression at moderate HF (I: from 1977.23  ±  354.66 to 899.36  ±  323.76) and cause reduction of pCO₂ index at severe HF (I: from 69.80  ±  3.22 to 60.44  ±  2.20) in COVID-19-infected patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Study results show that the ACE2 inhibitors play an important role in the regulation of inflammatory processes in both COVID-19-infected and uninfected patients with ARDS. ACE2 inhibitors decrease immunological disorders, inflammation, and lung alveoli dysfunction, especially in COVID-19-infected patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":44269,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Medicine Insights-Circulatory Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"11795484231180391"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/4f/9f/10.1177_11795484231180391.PMC10259131.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10663653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 for Predicting the Severity of COVID-19: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Trial Sequence Analysis.","authors":"Abhigan Babu Shrestha,&nbsp;Pashupati Pokharel,&nbsp;Harendra Singh,&nbsp;Sajina Shrestha,&nbsp;Fioni","doi":"10.1177/11795484231152304","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/11795484231152304","url":null,"abstract":"OBJECTIVE This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to find the association between serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) and the severity of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. DATA SOURCES Databases of Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were searched for studies reporting KL-6 levels in COVID-19 patients, published between January 2020 and September 30 2022. DATA SYNTHESIS For comparison between the groups, standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed as the effect sizes. Sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) were measured to assess the diagnostic power of KL-6. In addition, the summary receiver operating characteristics curve (sROC) was constructed to summarize the true positive (TP), and false positive (FP) rates. To validate the findings of meta-analysis, Trial Sequential Analysis (TSA) was conducted. RESULTS Altogether 497 severe COVID-19 patients and 934 non-severe (mild to moderate) COVID-19 patients were included. Pooling of 12 studies indicated that the serum KL-6 level had significant association with severity of COVID-19 infection: standard mean difference = 1.18 (95% CI: 0.93-1.43), p = 0.01; I2: 58.56%]. Pooled diagnostic parameters calculated from eight studies were: sensitivity 0.53 (95% CI: 0.47-0.59); specificity 0.90 (95% CI: 0.88-0.93); positive likelihood ratio 4.80 (95% CI: 3.53-6.53); negative likelihood ratio 0.46 (95% CI: 0.32-0.68); and area under curve: 0.8841. Additionally, TSA verified the adequacy of sample size and robustness of the meta-analysis. CONCLUSION Serum KL-6 level has a moderate degree of correlation with the severity of COVID-19 infection but has low sensitivity. So, it is not recommended as a screening test for severe COVID-19 infection.","PeriodicalId":44269,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Medicine Insights-Circulatory Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine","volume":"17 ","pages":"11795484231152304"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/52/bc/10.1177_11795484231152304.PMC9875321.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9895260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Severe and Apparently Irreversible Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in a Patient with Ostium Secundum Atrial Septal Defect - A Successful Case of Treat and Close Strategy.","authors":"Alexandra Briosa,&nbsp;Filipa Ferreira,&nbsp;João Santos,&nbsp;Sofia Alegria,&nbsp;Maria José Loureiro,&nbsp;Débora Repolho,&nbsp;Hélder Pereira","doi":"10.1177/11795484221141298","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/11795484221141298","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Irreversible pulmonary arterial hypertension is considered a contraindication for surgical or percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects (ASD) due to risk of right heart failure. We present a case of 37 years-old woman who was referred to our center due to progressive worsening fatigue and high probability of pulmonary hypertension on a transthoracic echocardiogram. The diagnostic work-up revealed the presence of an ostium secundum atrial septal defect and severe pre-capillary pulmonary hypertension on right heart cathetherization (RHC). The patient was considered inoperable and started medical therapy with sildenafil and bosentan. After one year of treatment, she repeated RHC that showed a significant reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance making her eligible for closure. Surgical closure of ASD with a fenestra was performed with success. Our case emphasizes the importance of individual assessment even if cases where initial evaluation is unfavorable to closure in accordance with the guidelines.</p>","PeriodicalId":44269,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Medicine Insights-Circulatory Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine","volume":"16 ","pages":"11795484221141298"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/6c/55/10.1177_11795484221141298.PMC9749546.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10405431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine among Heart Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review","authors":"Saeed Shoar, Adriana C. Carolina Prada-Ruiz, Gabriel Patarroyo-Aponte, A. Chaudhary, Mohammad Sadegh Asadi","doi":"10.1177/11795484221105327","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/11795484221105327","url":null,"abstract":"Background Heart transplant (HTX) recipients are at a significantly higher risk of adverse clinical outcomes, due to chronic immunosuppression and co-existence of other chronic conditions, when contracting the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is currently the most promising measure for the prevention of severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) among solid organ transplant recipients, the extent of immune response and its protective efficacy among patients receiving HTX has not been sufficiently studied. Methods We performed a systematic review of the literature by inquiring PubMed/Medline to identify original studies among HTX recipients, who had received at least one dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Data on the measured humoral or cellular immune response was collected from all the eligible studies. Factors associated with a poor immune response were further investigated within these studies. Results A total of 12 studies comprising 563 HTX recipients were included. The average age of the study participants was 60.8 years. Sixty four percent of the study population were male. Ninety percent of the patients had received an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer/ BNT162b2 or Moderna/mRNA-1273). A positive immune response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine was variably reported in 0% to 100% of the patients. Older age (> 65 years), vaccine dose (first, second, or third), time since HTX to the first dose of the vaccine, the time interval between the latest dose of the vaccine and measurement of the immune response, and the type of immunosuppressive regimen were all indicated as potential determinants of a robust immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Conclusion HTX recipients demonstrate a weaker immune response to the vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 compared to the general population. Older age, anti-metabolite agents such as mycophenolate mofetil, and vaccination during the first year following the HTX have been indicated as potential determinants of a poor immune response.","PeriodicalId":44269,"journal":{"name":"Clinical Medicine Insights-Circulatory Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2022-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83082383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}