Recent studies suggest that thrombotic complications are a common phenomenon in the novel SARS-CoV-2 infection. The main objective of our study is to assess cumulative incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) in non critically ill COVID-19 patients and to identify its predicting factors associated to the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. We retrospectevely reviewed 452 electronic medical records of patients admitted to Internal Medicine Department of a secondary hospital in Madrid during Covid 19 pandemic outbreak. We included 91 patients who underwent a multidetector Computed Tomography pulmonary angiography(CTPA) during conventional hospitalization. The cumulative incidence of PE was assessed ant the clinical, analytical and radiological characteristics were compared between patients with and without PE. PE incidence was 6.4% (29/452 patients). Most patients with a confirmed diagnosed with PE recieved low molecular weight heparin (LMWH): 79.3% (23/29). D-dimer peak was significatly elevated in PE vs non PE patients (14,480 vs 7230 mcg/dL, p = 0.03). In multivariate analysis of patients who underwent a CTPA we found that plasma D-dimer peak was an independen predictor of PE with a best cut off point of > 5000 µg/dl (OR 3.77; IC95% (1.18-12.16), p = 0.03). We found ninefold increased risk of PE patients not suffering from dyslipidemia (OR 9.06; IC95% (1.88-43.60). Predictive value of AUC for ROC is 75.5%. We found a high incidence of PE in non critically ill hospitalized COVID 19 patients despite standard thromboprophylaxis. An increase in D-dimer levels is an independent predictor for PE, with a best cutoff point of > 5000 µg/ dl.

A 72-year-old woman with a history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, smoking, and depression presented on early April 2020 with delirium and fever. A cranial CT scan was normal. A chest X-ray showed bilateral interstitial pneumonia, and nasopharyngeal exudate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was positive to SARS-CoV-2. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was normal. She was admitted and started on hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, and IV methylprednisolone. A few days later she was transferred to the intensive care unit due to a cardiogenic shock caused by a myocardial infarction. Further hemodynamic and respiratory evolution was good, and she was discharged without delirium or cognitive impairment on day 22 after admission. She was readmitted eight days later due to a 48-h history of dizziness, oscillopsia, and unsteadiness. Her vital signs were normal, and she was afebrile. Systemic examination was unremarkable. She was conscious, and her language and speech were normal, but slight inattention and disorientation were present. A downbeat nystagmus in all gaze positions and impairment of smooth pursuit eye movements were present. Horizontal and vertical eye movements showed no limitation. Motor and sensory examinations were normal, and deep tendon reflexes were all present and symmetrical. The left plantar response was extensor. There was no limb dysmetria, but severe truncal ataxia was present. Reflex

Background: Despite growing evidence showing an association between

Room tilt illusion (RTI) is a transient disorder of the environmental visuo-spatial perception consisting of paroxysmal tilts of the visual scene. It is attributed to an erroneous cortical mismatch of the visual and vestibular three-dimensional coordinate maps. Thirteen subjects were included in this retrospective case series. Clinical presentation was 180º rotation of the visual scene following the coronal plane in seven patients. The most common cause for RTI in our series was posterior circulation ischaemia (five cases). Cases of endolymphatic sac tumour, critical illness neuropathy, acute traumatic myelopathy and multiple system atrophy causing RTI are reported for the first time. No case of supratentorial focal lesion was found. In order to describe the clinical and imaging features of RTI, 135 cases previously reported in the literature were reviewed along with our series. There was a male predominance (60.2 %). Mean age was 51.2 ± 20.3 years. The most common location of the injury was the central nervous system (CNS) (61.4 %). Supratentorial and infratentorial structures accounted for the same frequency of lesions. The most common aetiology was cerebral ischaemia (infarction or transient ischaemic episode; 27.7 %). These patients were significantly older and their lesions commonly involved posterior fossa structures when compared to patients with non-vascular disorders. In summary, RTI is a manifestation of several CNS and vestibular disorders, and rarely of peripheral nervous system disorders, triggered by disruption of vestibular and sensory perception or integration. Cerebral ischaemic disorders are the most common aetiology for this rare syndrome.