International journal of clinical practice
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Feb 2021
Observational StudyHydroxychloroquine/Azithromycin treatment, QT interval and ventricular arrhythmias in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and azithromycin (AZM) are widely used in off-label treatment of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, cardiac safety of these drugs is still controversial in COVID-19. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate association of HCQ or HCQ + AZM treatment regimens, corrected QT (QTc) interval and malignant ventricular arrhythmias in hospitalized patients. ⋯ The present study revealed that although HCQ + AZM treatment was independently associated with QTc prolongation, none of patients experienced malignant ventricular arrhythmia or death during treatment. Further prospective studies are needed to determine the exact implications of these drugs on arrhythmias in patients with COVID-19.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Feb 2021
Identification of patients with Fabry disease using routine pathology results: PATHFINDER (eGFR) study.
Lysosomal α-galactosidase A deficiency (Fabry disease (FD)) was considered an X-linked recessive disorder but is now viewed as a variable penetrance dominant trait. The prevalence of FD is 1 in 40 000-117 000 but the ascertainment of late-onset cases and degree of female penetrance makes this unclear. Its prevalence in the general population, especially in patients with abnormal renal function is unclear. This study attempted to identify the prevalence of FD in patients with abnormal renal function results from laboratory databases. ⋯ Pathology databases hold routine information that can be used to identify patients with inherited errors of metabolism. Biochemical screening using reduced eGFR alone has a low yield for unidentified cases of Fabry Disease.
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Feb 2021
Smoking Habits among Patients with Psoriasis and the Effect of Smoking on Clinical and Treatment-associated Characteristics: A Cross Sectional Study.
Psoriasis is a multifactorial, chronic inflammatory skin disease where genetic and environmental factors play a role in the pathogenesis. Smoking is one of the critical environmental factors triggering psoriasis. ⋯ Smoking has many negative effects on patients with psoriasis including higher PASI levels, increased frequency of nail involvement, and cardiovascular diseases. Questioning cigarette smoking in psoriatic patients and supporting smoking cessation may contribute to reducing the adverse impact of smoking on psoriasis.