宽QRS波群心动过速的诊断与鉴别诊断研究进展

宽QRS波群心动过速是临床常见的心血管急症,可见于室性心动过速和室上性心动过速。室性心动过速是一种严重的心律失常,而室上性心动过速一般预后良好。由于二者的治疗原则不同,因此及时和正确地对宽QRS波群心动过速进行鉴别诊断在临床上有十分重要的意义。现对宽QRS波群心动过速的诊断和鉴别诊断予以综述。     

食管心电生理检查鉴别宽QRS波心动过速

目的探讨食管电生理检查在宽QRS波心动过速的诊断应用价值。方法结合心内电生理检查结论,对42例宽QRS波群心动过速（WCT）发作时的食管心电图及体表心电图诊断进行回顾性比较分析,评价食管电生理在诊断WCT中的应用价值。结果与体表心电图诊断结果相比较,食管心电图对WCT的诊断准确度更高,而误诊率、漏诊率更低。结论应用食管电生理能显著提高对WCT的诊断和鉴别诊断水平,在心律失常的治疗上也具有实用价值。     

Distinct Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients with Positive or Negative RT-PCR Test

Identification of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by RT-PCR from a nasopharyngeal swab sample is a common test for diagnosing COVID-19. However, some patients present clinical, laboratorial, and radiological evidence of COVID-19 infection with negative RT-PCR result(s). Thus, we assessed whether positive results were associated with intubation and mortality. This study was conducted in a Brazilian tertiary hospital from March to August of 2020. All patients had clinical, laboratory, and radiological diagnosis of COVID-19. They were divided into two groups: positive (+) RT-PCR group, with 2292 participants, and negative (−) RT-PCR group, with 706 participants. Patients with negative RT-PCR testing and an alternative most probable diagnosis were excluded from the study. The RT-PCR(+) group presented increased risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, and 28-day mortality, when compared to the RT-PCR(−) group. A positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR result was independently associated with intubation and 28 day in-hospital mortality. Accordingly, we concluded that patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis based on clinical data, despite a negative RT-PCR test from nasopharyngeal samples, presented more favorable outcomes than patients with positive RT-PCR test(s).     

Clinical course and prognostic factors of COVID-19 infection in an elderly hospitalized population

IntroductionOlder subjects have a higher risk of COVID-19 infection and a greater mortality. However, there is a lack of studies evaluating the characteristics of this infection at advanced age.Patients and methodsWe studied 404 patients ≥ 75 years (mean age 85.2 ± 5.3 years, 55 % males), with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 infection, attended in two hospitals in Madrid (Spain). Patients were followed-up until they were discharged from the hospital or until death.ResultsSymptoms started 2–7 days before admission, and consisted of fever (64 %), cough (59 %), and dyspnea (57 %). A total of 145 patients (35.9 %) died a median of 9 days after hospitalization. In logistic regression analysis, predictive factors of death were age (OR 1.086; 1.015–1.161 per year, p = 0.016), heart rate (1.040; 1.018–1.061 per beat, p < 0.0001), a decline in renal function during hospitalization (OR 7.270; 2.586–20.441, p < 0.0001) and worsening dyspnea during hospitalization (OR 73.616; 30.642–176.857, p < 0.0001). Factors predicting survival were a female sex (OR 0.271; 0.128–0.575, p = 0.001), previous treatment with RAAS inhibitors (OR 0.459; 0.222–0.949, p = 0.036), a higher oxygen saturation at admission (OR 0.901; 0.842–0.963 per percentage point increase, p = 0.002), and a greater platelet count (OR 0.995; 0.991–0.999 per 10⁶/L, p = 0.025).ConclusionElderly patients with COVID-19 infection have a similar clinical course to younger individuals. Previous treatment with RAAS inhibitors, and demographic, clinical and laboratory data influence prognosis.     

Key Factors Associated With Pulmonary Sequelae in the Follow-Up of Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients

IntroductionCritical COVID-19 survivors have a high risk of respiratory sequelae. Therefore, we aimed to identify key factors associated with altered lung function and CT scan abnormalities at a follow-up visit in a cohort of critical COVID-19 survivors.MethodsMulticenter ambispective observational study in 52 Spanish intensive care units. Up to 1327 PCR-confirmed critical COVID-19 patients had sociodemographic, anthropometric, comorbidity and lifestyle characteristics collected at hospital admission; clinical and biological parameters throughout hospital stay; and, lung function and CT scan at a follow-up visit.ResultsThe median [p₂₅–p₇₅] time from discharge to follow-up was 3.57 [2.77–4.92] months. Median age was 60 [53–67] years, 27.8% women. The mean (SD) percentage of predicted diffusing lung capacity for carbon monoxide (D_LCO) at follow-up was 72.02 (18.33)% predicted, with 66% of patients having D_LCO < 80% and 24% having D_LCO < 60%. CT scan showed persistent pulmonary infiltrates, fibrotic lesions, and emphysema in 33%, 25% and 6% of patients, respectively. Key variables associated with D_LCO < 60% were chronic lung disease (CLD) (OR: 1.86 (1.18–2.92)), duration of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (OR: 1.56 (1.37–1.77)), age (OR [per-1-SD] (95%CI): 1.39 (1.18–1.63)), urea (OR: 1.16 (0.97–1.39)) and estimated glomerular filtration rate at ICU admission (OR: 0.88 (0.73–1.06)). Bacterial pneumonia (1.62 (1.11–2.35)) and duration of ventilation (NIMV (1.23 (1.06–1.42), IMV (1.21 (1.01–1.45)) and prone positioning (1.17 (0.98–1.39)) were associated with fibrotic lesions.ConclusionAge and CLD, reflecting patients’ baseline vulnerability, and markers of COVID-19 severity, such as duration of IMV and renal failure, were key factors associated with impaired D_LCO and CT abnormalities.     

Proteinuria and Clinical Outcomes in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Single-Center Study

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Outcomes of COVID-19 in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients: Multicenter Retrospective Analysis

COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 9, 2020. Hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients may be highly susceptible to infection and related pulmonary complications due to nascent immune systems or organ damage from treatment-related toxicities. Poor outcomes in such group of patients were linked to older age, steroid therapy at the time of COVID-19 infection, and COVID-19 infection within a year of HSCT. We studied a cohort of 28 hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (male 17, M:F ratio of 1.5) with COVID-19 infection from 1st June 2020, through 31st December 2020 for outcome. Fever was the most common symptom at the time of presentation in 22 (78.5%) patients. Mortality rate at Day 28 and Day 42 was found to be 4/28 (14.3%) and 7/28 (25%) respectively. Patients within one year of HSCT and severe infection had higher day 28 mortality (with p values = 0.038)". There was no relation of mortality with type of transplant.     

Sex-specific differences in myocardial injury incidence after COVID-19 mRNA-1273 booster vaccination

Aims

To explore the incidence and potential mechanisms of oligosymptomatic myocardial injury following COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccination.

Methods and results

Hospital employees scheduled to undergo mRNA-1273 booster vaccination were assessed for mRNA-1273 vaccination-associated myocardial injury, defined as acute dynamic increase in high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) concentration above the sex-specific upper limit of normal on day 3 (48–96 h) after vaccination without evidence of an alternative cause. To explore possible mechanisms, antibodies against interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), the SARS-CoV-2-nucleoprotein (NP) and -spike (S1) proteins and an array of 14 inflammatory cytokines were quantified. Among 777 participants (median age 37 years, 69.5% women), 40 participants (5.1%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.7–7.0%) had elevated hs-cTnT concentration on day 3 and mRNA-1273 vaccine-associated myocardial injury was adjudicated in 22 participants (2.8% [95% CI 1.7–4.3%]). Twenty cases occurred in women (3.7% [95% CI 2.3–5.7%]), two in men (0.8% [95% CI 0.1–3.0%]). Hs-cTnT elevations were mild and only temporary. No patient had electrocardiographic changes, and none developed major adverse cardiac events within 30 days (0% [95% CI 0–0.4%]). In the overall booster cohort, hs-cTnT concentrations (day 3; median 5, interquartile range [IQR] 4–6 ng/L) were significantly higher compared to matched controls (n = 777, median 3 [IQR 3–5] ng/L, p < 0.001). Cases had comparable systemic reactogenicity, concentrations of anti-IL-1RA, anti-NP, anti-S1, and markers quantifying systemic inflammation, but lower concentrations of interferon (IFN)-λ1 (IL-29) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) versus persons without vaccine-associated myocardial injury.

Conclusion

mRNA-1273 vaccine-associated myocardial injury was more common than previously thought, being mild and transient, and more frequent in women versus men. The possible protective role of IFN-λ1 (IL-29) and GM-CSF warrant further studies.     

Impact of Living Donor Liver Transplantation on COVID-19 Clinical Outcomes from a Quaternary Care Centre in Delhi

Background and AimsThe anticipated fear of serious outcomes in coronavirus infected liver transplant recipients led to disruption of transplant services globally. The aim of our study was to analyze COVID-19 severity in transplant recipients and to compare the difference of COVID-19 clinical outcomes in early (<1 year) vs. late (>1 year) post-transplant period.Methods41 post-living donor liver transplant recipients with COVID-19 infection were studied retrospectively from 1st April 2020 to 28th February 2021.ResultsThe median age was 49.00 years with a male preponderance (80.49%). Fifteen patients had infection within 1 year of transplant and 26 were infected after 1 year of transplant. The overall median interval between transplantation and COVID-19 diagnosis was 816.00 days. Fever and malaise were the common presenting symptoms. The most common associated comorbidities were diabetes mellitus (65.85%) and hypertension (46.34%). The severity of illness was mild in 28 (68.29%), moderate in 4 (9.76%), severe in 6 (14.63%) and critical in 3 (7.32%). To identify associated risk factors, we divided our patients into less severe and more severe groups. Except for lymphopenia, there was no worsening of total bilirubin, transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase in the more severe group. Eight (19.51%) patients required intensive care unit admission and three (7.32%) died, while none suffered graft rejection. In recipients with early vs. late post-transplant COVID-19 infection, there were similar outcomes in terms of severity of COVID-19 illness, intensive care unit care need, requirement of respiratory support, and death.ConclusionLiving donor liver transplantation can be performed during the COVID-19 pandemic without the fear of poor recipient outcome in cases of unfortunate contraction of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2.     

Inflammatory and Hemostatic Markers in COVID-19 Patients with Arterial Thrombosis Are Significantly Lower at Hospital Admission than in COVID-19 Patients without Thrombosis

Patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE); however, data on arterial thromboembolism (ATE) is still limited. We report a case series of thromboembolic events (TE) in 290 COVID-19 patients admitted between October and December 2020 to a Portuguese hospital. Admission levels of various laboratory parameters were evaluated and compared between COVID-19 patients with (TE) and without thrombotic events (non-TE). The overall incidence of isolated ATE was 5.52%, isolated VTE was 2.41% and multiple mixed events was 0.7%. A total of 68% events were detected upon admission to the hospital with 76% corresponding to ATE. Admissions to the Intensive Care Unit were higher in patients with TE, when comparing with the non-TE group (44% vs. 27.2%; p = 0.003). Patients with ATE presented significantly lower levels of CRP (p = 0.007), ferritin (p = 0.045), LDH (p = 0.037), fibrinogen (p = 0.010) and higher monocyte counts (p = 0.033) comparatively to the non-TE patients. These results point to an early occurrence of TE and an increased incidence of ATE over VTE. The less prominent inflammation markers in patients with TE and the early presence of TE in patients with otherwise no reason for hospitalization, may suggest a direct role of SARS-CoV-2 in the thrombotic process.     

Is Atrial Fibrillation a Risk Factor for Worse Outcomes in Severe COVID-19 Patients: A Single Center Retrospective Cohort

IntroductionNew onset atrial fibrillation leads to worse outcomes in patients with sepsis. The association between new onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in COVID19 patients with COVID19 outcomes are lacking. This study aims to determine whether new onset atrial fibrillation in COVID19 patients admitted in the ICU is a risk factor for death or requirement of mechanical ventilation (MV).MethodsThis is a retrospective study conducted in a cohort of COVID-19 patients admitted to Bahrain Defence Force COVID19 Field ICU between April 2020 to November 2020. Data were extracted from the electronic medical records. The patients who developed new onset AF during admission were compared to patients who remained in sinus rhythm. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to control for confounders and estimate the effect of AF on the outcomes of these patients.ResultsOur study included a total of 492 patients out of which 30 were diagnosed with new onset AF. In the AF group, the primary outcome occurred in 66.7% of patients (n = 20). In the control group, 17.1% (n = 79) developed the primary outcome. Upon adjusting for the confounders in the multivariate regression model, AF had an odds ratio of 3.96 (95% CI: 1.05–14.98; p = 0.042) for the primary outcome.ConclusionOur results indicate that new onset AF is a risk factor for worse outcomes in patients admitted with COVID19 in the ICU.