The Efficacy of High-Dose Pulse Therapy vs. Low-Dose Intravenous Methylprednisolone on Severe to Critical COVID-19 Clinical Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: It remains unclear which formulation of the corticosteroid regimen has the optimum efficacies on COVID-19 pneumonia. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes of 2 different regimens in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19: methylprednisolone at a dose of 1 mg/kg every 12 hours (low-dose group) and 1000 mg/day pulse therapy for 3 days following 1 mg/kg methylprednisolone every 12 hours (high-dose group). Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, patients with mild to moderate ARDS due to COVID-19 were randomly assigned to receive either low-dose (n = 47) or high-dose (n = 48) intravenous methylprednisolone regimens. Two groups were matched for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), comorbidities, leukocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophil/lymphocyte, platelet, hemoglobin, and inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP], and ferritin). Both regimens were initiated upon admission and continued for 10 days. The clinical outcome and secondary complications were evaluated. Results: Evaluating in-hospital outcomes, no difference was revealed in the duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stays (5.4 ± 4.6 vs. 4.5 ± 4.9; P = 0.35), total hospital stays (8 ± 3.1 vs. 6.9 ± 3.4; P = 0.1), requirement rate for invasive ventilation (29.2% vs. 36.2%; P = 0.4) or non-invasive ventilation (16.6% vs 23.4%; P = 0.4), and hemoperfusion (16.6% vs 11.3%; P = 0.3) between the low- and high-dose groups. There was no significant difference in fatality due to ARDS (29.2% vs. 38.3%; P = 0.3) and septic shock (4.2% vs. 6.4%; P = 0.3) between the low- and high-dose groups. Patients in the high-dose group had significantly higher bacterial pneumonia co-infection events compared with those in the low-dose group (18.7% vs 10.6%; P = 0.01). Conclusions: The use of adjuvant pulse therapy with intravenous methylprednisolone did not result in improved in-hospital clinical outcomes among patients with mild to moderate ARDS due to COVID-19. A higher risk of bacterial pneumonia should be considered in such cases as receiving a higher dose of steroids.

Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Epidemiology in Iranian Elderly Population; an Analysis of the Iranian National Registry for Cancer (2009-2014 Years)

“…According to the WHO, there are more than 80 distinct subtypes of tissue sarcomas difficult to categorize accurately ( 2 ). Despite the complex histology of sarcomas, they can develop at almost any anatomical site and at any age, accounting for about 1–3% of all newly diagnosed malignancies ( 3 , 4 ). In terms of anatomy, there are two different types of sarcomas: bone sarcoma (BS) and soft tissue sarcoma (STS), which account for 20% and 80% of cases, respectively ( 5 ).…”

“…In Europe, the annual incidence rate of STS is estimated at 5 per 100,000 population ( 2 , 3 ). More than 40% of cases of STS are diagnosed in people over 65 yr of age, among which people 65–74 yr have the highest rate (19.9%)( 4 ). Elderly patients with STS are significantly different from younger patients.…”