scholarly journals Doxycycline treatment of high-risk COVID-19-positive patients with comorbid pulmonary disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175346662095105 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul A. Yates ◽  
Steven A. Newman ◽  
Lauren J. Oshry ◽  
Robert H. Glassman ◽  
Ashton M. Leone ◽  
...  

Infection with novel SARS-CoV-2 carries significant morbidity and mortality in patients with pulmonary compromise, such as lung cancer, autoimmune disease, and pneumonia. For early stages of mild to moderate disease, care is entirely supportive. Antiviral drugs such as remdesivir may be of some benefit but are reserved for severe cases given limited availability and potential toxicity. Repurposing of safer, established medications that may have antiviral activity is a possible approach for treatment of earlier-stage disease. Tetracycline and its derivatives (e.g. doxycycline and minocycline) are nontraditional antibiotics with a well-established safety profile, potential efficacy against viral pathogens such as dengue fever and chikungunya, and may regulate pathways important in initial infection, replication, and systemic response to SARS-CoV-2. We present a series of four high-risk, symptomatic, COVID-19+ patients, with known pulmonary disease, treated with doxycycline with subsequent rapid clinical improvement. No safety issues were noted with use of doxycycline. Doxycycline is an attractive candidate as a repurposed drug in the treatment of COVID-19 infection, with an established safety profile, strong preclinical rationale, and compelling initial clinical experience described here. The reviews of this paper are available via the supplemental material section.

Author(s):  
M.A. Bubnova ◽  
O.N. Kryuchkova

Patients with hypertension (HT) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a high risk of cardiovascular complications. Up to now, there is no optimal strategy for combined antihypertensive therapy. Still, the data of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (BPM) are important while choosing treatment tactics. The aim of the paper is to study the features of indicators in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and COPD. Materials and methods. 130 patients with HT were included in the study. The main group (n=90) included comorbid patients with HT and COPD, their average age was 61.30±1.01; the comparison group (n=40) consisted of patients with HT, their average age was 59.10±1.53. All patients underwent 24-hour BPM. Results. Comorbid patients revealed an increase in the mean 24-hour and night systolic and mean arterial pressure values as well as a significant increase in the load index of systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure. Also, comorbid patients demonstrated higher blood pressure in contrast to the patients of the comparison group. They had increased systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure variability and a quicker rate of morning blood pressure rise. According to 24-hour blood pressure dynamics, pathological types of the 24-hour blood pressure curve, a higher frequency of the night-peaker profile dominated in patients with COPD if compared to patients with HT. Conclusion. The obtained data indicated a high risk of cardiovascular complications in comorbid patients, early target organ damage and an unfavorable disease prognosis. It means that both further study of hypertension clinical course in such patients and personalization of antihypertensive therapy are relevant. Keywords: hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 24-hour monitoring, blood pressure. Пациенты с артериальной гипертензией (АГ) и хронической обструктивной болезнью легких (ХОБЛ) имеют высокий риск возникновения кардиоваскулярных осложнений. В настоящее время в лечении не определена наиболее оптимальная стратегия комбинированной антигипертензивной терапии. Для выбора тактики терапии важную роль играют показатели суточного мониторирования артериального давления (СМАД). Цель. Изучить особенности показателей СМАД у пациентов с АГ на фоне ХОБЛ. Материалы и методы. В исследование включено 130 пациентов с АГ. В основную группу (n=90) вошли пациенты с АГ и ХОБЛ (средний возраст – 61,30±1,01 года), в группу сравнения (n=40) – больные только АГ (средний возраст – 59,10±1,53 года). Всем пациентам проведено СМАД. Результаты. У пациентов с коморбидностью выявлены следующие особенности суточных показателей артериального давления: увеличение значений среднесуточных и средненочных показателей систолического и среднего артериального давления; существенное повышение индекса нагрузки систолическим, диастолическим и средним артериальным давлением. Также эти больные отличались от пациентов группы сравнения более высокими значениями пульсового давления, имели повышенную вариабельность систолического, диастолического и среднего артериального давления, у них наблюдалось увеличение скорости утреннего подъема артериального давления. Суточная динамика артериального давления у пациентов с ХОБЛ характеризовалась преобладанием патологических типов суточной кривой АД, более высокой частотой профиля night-peaker по сравнению с больными только АГ. Выводы. Выявленные особенности свидетельствуют о высоком риске сердечно-сосудистых осложнений у пациентов с коморбидностью, раннем поражении органов-мишеней и неблагоприятном прогнозе заболевания, что требует дальнейшего изучения особенностей клинического течения АГ у таких больных и индивидуализации антигипертензивной терапии. Ключевые слова: артериальная гипертензия, хроническая обструктивная болезнь легких, суточное мониторирование, артериальное давление.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S293-S293
Author(s):  
Sandra Silva ◽  
Thriveen Mana ◽  
Davinder Bhullar ◽  
Beatrice Tabor ◽  
Curtis Donskey

Abstract Background During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many healthcare personnel (HCP) have developed COVID-19. However, there is uncertainty regarding whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was acquired at work versus in the community. Methods We conducted a cohort study to examine exposure history of personnel with COVID-19 infection or asymptomatic carriage in a VA healthcare system. High-risk exposures were classified based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Results Of 578 personnel tested, 49 (8%) had nasopharyngeal swabs with positive PCR results, including 45 (92%) with and 4 (8%) without COVID-19 symptoms. Of the 49 cases, 21 (43%) had a documented high-risk exposure at work, including 14 exposures to COVID-19 patients and 7 exposures to colonized or infected personnel. Exposures to infected patients most often were a result of delays in recognition of COVID-19 due to atypical presentations. Exposures to personnel with COVID-19 most often involved activities such as meals when facemasks were not worn. Most cases occurred among nurses (26, 53%) and administrative personnel (10, 20%); only 3 physicians developed COVID-19. No cases occurred in personnel working on COVID-19 wards. All personnel had mild or moderate disease. Conclusion Forty-three percent of healthcare personnel with COVID-19 had prior high-risk exposures at work. Improved detection of patients with atypical presentations and efforts to reduce high-risk contacts among personnel may reduce the risk for acquisition of SARS-CoV-2. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurora Zanghì ◽  
Antonio Gallo ◽  
Carlo Avolio ◽  
Rocco Capuano ◽  
Matteo Lucchini ◽  
...  

Abstract The main aim of the study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of ocrelizumab (OCR), rituximab (RTX), and cladribine (CLA), employed as natalizumab (NTZ) exit strategies in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients at high-risk for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). This is a multicentre, retrospective, real-world study on consecutive RRMS patients from eleven tertiary Italian MS centres, who switched from NTZ to OCR, RTX, and CLA from January 1st, 2019, to December 31st, 2019. The primary study outcomes were the annualized relapse rate (ARR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcome. Treatment effects were estimated by the inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW), based on propensity-score (PS) approach. Additional endpoint included confirmed disability progression (CDP) as measured by Expanded Disability Status Scale and adverse events (AEs). Patients satisfying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were 120; 64 switched to OCR, 36 to RTX, and 20 to CLA. Patients from the 3 groups did not show differences for baseline characteristics, also after post hoc analysis. The IPTW PS-adjusted models revealed that patients on OCR had a lower risk for ARR than patients on CLA (ExpBOCR 0.485, CI 95% 0.264–0.893, p = 0.020). This result was confirmed also for 12-month MRI activity (ExpBOCR 0.248 CI 95% 0.065–0.948, p = 0.042). No differences were found in other pairwise comparisons (OCR vs RTX and RTX vs CLA) for the investigated outcomes. AEs were similar among the 3 groups. Anti-CD20 drugs were revealed to be effective and safe options as NTZ exit strategies. All investigated DMTs showed a good safety profile.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 204062072110196
Author(s):  
Albert Oriol ◽  
Laura Abril ◽  
Anna Torrent ◽  
Gladys Ibarra ◽  
Josep-Maria Ribera

The development of several treatment options over the last 2 decades has led to a notable improvement in the survival of patients with multiple myeloma. Despite these advances, the disease remains incurable for most patients. Moreover, standard combinations of alkylating agents, immunomodulatory drugs, proteasome inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies targeting CD38 and corticoids are exhausted relatively fast in a proportion of high-risk patients. Such high-risk patients account for over 20% of cases and currently represent a major unmet medical need. The challenge of drug resistance requires the development of highly active new agents with a radically different mechanism of action. Several immunotherapeutic modalities, including antibody–drug conjugates and T-cell engagers, appear to be promising choices for patients who develop resistance to standard combinations. Chimeric antigen-receptor-modified T cells (CAR-Ts) targeting B-cell maturation antigen have demonstrated encouraging efficacy and an acceptable safety profile compared with alternative options. Multiple CAR-Ts are in early stages of clinical development, but the first phase III trials with CAR-Ts are ongoing for two of them. After the recent publication of the results of a phase II trial confirming a notable efficacy and acceptable safety profile, idecabtagene vicleucel is the first CAR-T to gain regulatory US Food and Drug Administration approval to treat refractory multiple myeloma patients who have already been exposed to antibodies against CD38, proteasome inhibitors, and immunomodulatory agents and who are refractory to the last therapy. Here, we will discuss the preclinical and clinical development of idecabtagene vicleucel and its future role in the changing treatment landscape of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (9) ◽  
pp. 2847-2858
Author(s):  
Jebby Yii ◽  
Alias Mahmud ◽  
Azlan Helmy Abd Samat ◽  
Dazlin Masdiana Sabardin ◽  
Mohd Hisham Mohd Isa ◽  
...  

The emergence of COVID-19 pandemic has caused difficulty to emergency-HCW (EHCW) in resuscitating high-risk patients. We set out to explore EHCW’s perception after undergoing COVID-ACLS resuscitation training and address their anxiety of working in this pandemic. A qualitative case study using focused group discussion was conducted among EHCW who have undergone COVID-ACLS training. Five semi-structured questions exploring respondent’s confidence level, anxiety factors, areas of improvement for COVID-ACLS and if this COVID-ACLS training is sufficient. Inductive and deductive thematic analysis approach was done to analyse the result. 20 EHCW participated in this study. Out of 4 themes, 11 subthemes were identified based on the respondents. They were acquired new knowledge, self-precaution, method of delivery, concerns of self and family members, stigmatisation, insufficient protective methods, underappreciation, regular training sessions, other modalities for learning, course duration; and unsatisfactory reading material. New knowledge and self-precaution were noted to be an important aspect that boosts confidence among EHCW. The main factor that increased anxiety was safety issues and disease spreading to family members, colleagues, and society. In conclusion, COVID-ACLS training is able to boost EHCW confidence in resuscitating high-risk patients. Factors leading to anxiety among EHCW should also be addressed during this pandemic to ensure psychological welfare and mental health are not affected. Regular training and utilisation of other teaching modalities such as video are perceived as a helpful adjunct in boosting their confidence. The utilisation of new training approach should be explored in enhancing EHCW’s knowledge and confidence.


Healthcare ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Roy Pleasants ◽  
Khosrow Heidari ◽  
Jill Ohar ◽  
James Donohue ◽  
Njira Lugogo ◽  
...  

Rationale/Objective: The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) health survey has been used to describe the epidemiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the US. Through addressing respiratory symptoms and tobacco use, it could also be used to characterize COPD risk. Methods: Four US states added questions to the 2015 BRFSS regarding productive cough, shortness of breath, dyspnea on exertion, and tobacco duration. We determined COPD risk categories: provider-diagnosed COPD as self-report, high-risk for COPD as ≥10 years tobacco smoking and at least one significant respiratory symptom, and low risk was neither diagnosed COPD nor high risk. Disease burden was defined by respiratory symptoms and health impairments. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression models with age as a covariate. Results: Among 35,722 adults ≥18 years, the overall prevalence of COPD and high-risk for COPD were 6.6% and 5.1%. Differences among COPD risk groups were evident based on gender, race, age, geography, tobacco use, health impairments, and respiratory symptoms. Risk for disease was seen early where 3.75% of 25–34 years-old met high-risk criteria. Longer tobacco duration was associated with an increased prevalence of COPD, particularly >20 years. Seventy-nine percent of persons ≥45 years-old with frequent shortness of breath (SOB) reported having or being at risk of COPD, reflecting disease burden. Conclusion: These data, representing nearly 18% of US adults, indicates those at high risk for COPD share many, but not all of the characteristics of persons diagnosed with the disease and demonstrates the value of the BRFSS as a tool to define lung health at a population level.


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