Background Patients with severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have respiratory failure with hypoxemia and acute bilateral pulmonary infiltrates, consistent with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). It has been suggested that respiratory failure in COVID-19 represents a novel pathologic entity. Research Question How does the lung histopathology described in COVID-19 compare to the lung histopathology described in SARS and H1N1 influenza? Study Design and Methods: We conducted a systematic review to characterize the lung histopathologic features of COVID-19 and compare them against findings of other recent viral pandemics, H1N1 influenza and SARS. We systematically searched MEDLINE and PubMed for studies published up to June 24, 2020 using search terms for COVID-19, H1N1 influenza and SARS with keywords for pathology, biopsy, and autopsy. Using PRISMA-IPD guidelines, our systematic review analysis included 26 articles representing 171 COVID-19 patients; 20 articles representing 287 H1N1 patients; and eight articles representing 64 SARS patients. Results In COVID-19, acute phase diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) was reported in 88% of patients, which was similar to the proportion of cases with DAD in both H1N1 (90%) and SARS (98%). Pulmonary microthrombi were reported in 57% of COVID-19 and 58% of SARS patients, as compared to 24% of H1N1 influenza patients. Interpretation DAD, the histologic correlate of ARDS, is the predominant histopathologic pattern identified in lung pathology from patients with COVID-19, H1N1 influenza and SARS. Microthrombi were reported more frequently in both patients with COVID-19 and SARS as compared to H1N1 influenza. Future work is needed to validate this histopathologic finding and, if confirmed, elucidate the mechanistic underpinnings and characterize any associations with clinically important outcomes.
Rationale: Open lung biopsy may be performed to guide therapy in mechanically ventilated patients with diagnostic uncertainty regarding etiology of pulmonary infiltrates. Current evidence for open lung biopsy in mechanically ventilated patients comes from single-center case series.Objectives: We performed a metaanalysis of case series to determine diagnoses, complications, and changes in therapy after lung biopsy in critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Methods:We searched Medline for case series of lung biopsies in critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation. We pooled results of individual case series using random effects metaanalysis models to obtain summary proportions. Measurements and Main Results:We identified 14 case series including a total of 512 mechanically ventilated patients with 530 histopathological diagnoses. The most common diagnoses were "fibrosis/pneumonitis" (n = 155, 25%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 14-37%) and infection (n = 113, 20%; 95% CI, 15-27%). Viruses were the most commonly identified infectious etiology identified on open lung biopsy, representing 50% of potential pathogens. Diffuse alveolar damage was present in a minority of specimens (n = 100, 16%; 95% CI, 8-25%). Therapeutic changes after lung biopsy occurred in 399 patients (78%; 95% CI, 64-81%). Procedure-related complications occurred in 29% of patients (95% CI, 25-33%), most commonly persistent air leak. Mortality among mechanically ventilated patients after diagnostic open lung biopsy was 54%.Conclusions: Among mechanically ventilated patients with respiratory failure of unclear etiology, lung biopsy yielded a wide range of diagnoses and was associated with a change in therapy in most patients.
Macitentan is a medication in the endothelin receptor antagonist class, approved for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension in 2013 based on the results of the pivotal SERAPHIN Trial (Study with an Endothelin Receptor Antagonist in Pulmonary arterial Hypertension to Improve cliNical outcome). Macitentan was shown in initial trials to reduce the likelihood of a morbidity/mortality event. Real-world use of this medication additionally reveals a reduced risk of hospitalizations related to pulmonary arterial hypertension, improved health-related quality of life scores, potential clinical utility in other conditions (such as chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary hypertension related to congenital heart disease), and has a similar safety profile as demonstrated in initial trials.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.