IntroductionTreatment with dexamethasone reduces mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia requiring supplemental oxygen, but the optimal dose has not been determined.
ObjectiveTo determine whether weight-based dexamethasone of 0.2 mg/kg is superior to 6 mg daily in reducing 28day mortality in patients with COVID-19 and hypoxemia.
Materials and methodsA multicenter, open-label, randomized clinical trial was conducted between March 2021 and December 2021 at seven hospitals within Northwell Health. A total of 142 patients with confirmed COVID-19 and hypoxemia were included. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to dexamethasone 0.2 mg/kg intravenously daily (n = 70) or 6 mg daily (n = 72) for up to 10 days.
ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference in the primary outcome of 28-day all-cause mortality with deaths in 12 of 70 patients (17.14%) in the intervention group and 15 of 72 patients (20.83%) in the control group (p = 0.58). There were no statistically significant differences among the secondary outcomes.
ConclusionIn patients with COVID-19 and hypoxemia, the use of weight-based dexamethasone dosing was not superior to dexamethasone 6 mg in reducing all-cause mortality at 28 days.
Clinical trial registrationThis study was registered under ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT04834375).
Bedside ultrasonographic assessment of the lung and pleura provides rapid, noninvasive, and essential information in diagnosis and management of various pulmonary conditions. Ultrasonography helps in diagnosing common conditions, including consolidation, interstitial syndrome, pleural effusions and masses, pneumothorax, and diaphragmatic dysfunction. It provides procedural guidance for various pulmonary procedures, including thoracentesis, chest tube insertion, transthoracic aspiration, and biopsies. This article describes major applications of ultrasonography for the pulmonary consultant along with illustrative figures and videos.
The use of e-cigarettes to deliver aerosolized nicotine has gained popularity in recent years.Numerous reports have cited the development of acute pulmonary disease linked to vaping nicotine as well as marijuana-based products. As cultural attitudes evolve and policies shift toward the legalization of marijuana, its use has become more prevalent. Given the increased prevalence of marijuana consumption and e-cigarette usage, better insight into its potential to cause lung toxicity is warranted. The clinical, radiographic, and histopathologic characteristics of lung injury associated with vaping, particularly with marijuana-based products, have yet to be well described in the literature. We present eight patients, most of whom were admitted recently to our institution with acute respiratory failure following vaping. The majority of patients were young, with a median age of 31.5 years (range, 24-62 years) and with no known underlying lung disease. This case series highlights common clinical findings as well as the varied radiographic and histopathologic features of acute respiratory failure associated with vaping predominantly marijuana-based products. As more cases of vaping-associated pulmonary injury unfold, data will be available to further characterize this emerging disease entity.Improved understanding of disease pathogenesis and its clinical course will help clinicians determine optimal management and follow-up strategies for this patient population. CHEST 2020; 157(3):e63-e68
There has been a dramatic rise in the number of patients presenting with e-cigarette or, vaping, product use-associated lung injury (EVALI). As of October 2019, 1080 cases and 18 deaths have been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, its etiology is poorly understood. We reviewed 24 cases of EVALI related to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) oil at our institution. Similar to reports by Layden et al, our patients presented with abdominal complaints, fever, and hypoxemic respiratory failure. 1 Pathology revealed inflammation, diffuse alveolar damage, type 2 pneumocyte hyperplasia, organizing pneumonia, capillaritis, and lipoid pneumonia. 2
Pseudomembranous tracheitis (PMT) is a rare condition most commonly caused by fungal or bacterial infection that is characterized by a pseudomembrane that partially or completely covers the tracheobronchial tree. PMT is most commonly found in immunocompromised patient populations, such as post-chemotherapy, AIDS, post-transplant and hematological malignancies. Due to its rarity, PMT is often not included in the differential diagnosis. This case describes a 65 year old male with persistent fever and refractory cough despite high dose empiric antibiotics. Subsequent bronchoscopy with biopsy revealed pseudomembranous tracheitis due to Aspergillus fumigatus in the setting of T-cell lymphoma. PMT should be considered in the differential diagnosis of refractory cough in the immunocompromised population. However, it has been described in patients with nonspecific respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, and other airway issues.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is an uncommon, progressive and life
threatening disease characterized by a proliferative vasculopathy of the small
muscular pulmonary arterioles resulting in elevated pulmonary vascular
resistance and eventually right ventricular failure. An increasing understanding
of the pathobiology of PAH and its natural history has led to the development of
numerous targeted therapies. Despite these advances there is significant
progression of disease and the survival rate remains low. This article reviews
the agents currently available for the medical management of PAH.
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