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Rizk JG, Saini J, Kim K, Pathan U, Qato DM. County-level factors associated with a mismatch between opioid overdose mortality and availability of opioid treatment facilities. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301863. [PMID: 38578818 PMCID: PMC10997118 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid overdose deaths in the United States remain a major public health crisis. Little is known about counties with high rates of opioid overdose mortality but low availability of opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment facilities. We sought to identify characteristics of United States (US) counties with high rates of opioid overdose mortality and low rates of opioid treatment facilities. METHODS Rates of overdose mortality from 3,130 US counties were compared with availability of opioid treatment facilities that prescribed or allowed medications for OUD (MOUD), from 2018-2019. The outcome variable, "risk-availability mismatch" county, was a binary indicator of a high rate (above national average) of opioid overdose mortality with a low (below national average) rate of opioid treatment facilities. Covariates of interest included county-level sociodemographics and rates of insurance, unemployment, educational attainment, poverty, urbanicity, opioid prescribing, depression, heart disease, Gini index, and Theil index. Multilevel logistic regression, accounting for the clustering of counties within states, was used to determine associations with being a "risk-availability mismatch" county. RESULTS Of 3,130 counties, 1,203 (38.4%) had high rates of opioid overdose mortality. A total of 1,098 counties (35.1%) lacked a publicly-available opioid treatment facility in 2019. In the adjusted model, counties with an additional 1% of: white residents (odds ratio, OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03), unemployment (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.05-1.19), and residents without insurance (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.08) had increased odds of being a mismatch county. Counties that were metropolitan (versus non-metropolitan) had an increased odds of being a mismatch county (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.45-2.38). CONCLUSION Assessing mismatch between treatment availability and need provides useful information to characterize counties that require greater public health investment. Interventions to reduce overdose mortality are unlikely to be effective if they do not take into account diverse upstream factors, including sociodemographics, disease burden, and geographic context of communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G. Rizk
- Department of Practice, Sciences and Health Outcomes Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jannat Saini
- Department of Practice, Sciences and Health Outcomes Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kyungha Kim
- Department of Practice, Sciences and Health Outcomes Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Uzma Pathan
- Department of Practice, Sciences and Health Outcomes Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Danya M. Qato
- Department of Practice, Sciences and Health Outcomes Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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Asadi Noghabi F, G. Rizk J, Makkar D, Roozbeh N, Ghelichpour S, Zarei A. Managing Monkeypox Virus Infections: A Contemporary Review. Iran J Med Sci 2024; 49:1-9. [PMID: 38322157 PMCID: PMC10839137 DOI: 10.30476/ijms.2022.96738.2837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Monkeypox is an infectious and contagious zoonotic disease caused by the Orthopoxvirus species and was first identified in Africa. Recently, this infectious disease has spread widely in many parts of the world. Fever, fatigue, headache, and rash are common symptoms of monkeypox. The presence of lymphadenopathy is another prominent and key symptom of monkeypox, which distinguishes this disease from other diseases and is useful for diagnosing the disease. This disease is transmitted to humans through contact with or eating infected animals as well as objects infected with the virus. One of the ways to diagnose this disease is through PCR testing of lesions and secretions. To prevent the disease, vaccines such as JYNNEOS and ACAM2000 are available, but they are not accessible to all people in the world, and their effectiveness and safety need further investigation. However, preventive measures such as avoiding contact with people infected with the virus and using appropriate personal protective equipment are mandatory. The disease therapy is based on medicines such as brincidofovir, cidofovir, and Vaccinia Immune Globulin Intravenous. The injectable format of tecovirimat was approved recently, in May 2022. Considering the importance of clinical care in this disease, awareness about the side effects of medicines, nutrition, care for conjunctivitis, skin rash, washing and bathing at home, and so on can be useful in controlling and managing the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fariba Asadi Noghabi
- Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - John G. Rizk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research Center, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Nasibeh Roozbeh
- Mother and Child Welfare Research Center, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Soleyman Ghelichpour
- Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Aref Zarei
- Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
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Rizk JG, Lewin JC. FDA's dilemma with the aducanumab approval: public pressure and hope, surrogate markers and efficacy, and possible next steps. BMJ Evid Based Med 2023; 28:78-82. [PMID: 35450946 DOI: 10.1136/bmjebm-2022-111914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Accelerating Food and Drug Administration (FDA) product approval to market based on surrogate markers in the absence of proven efficacy creates a risk of adverse outcomes for affected patients, even in response to a life-threatening condition, such as in this case, Alzheimer's disease. FDA's recent unexpected approval of aducanumab, despite the unified opposition of its own highly respected advisory committee after the early termination of two efficacy trials, creates the potential risk of adverse effects and lack of clinical efficacy at very high costs. In view of these concerns, a thorough review of the issues and pressures that led to this decision is worth the careful consideration of the clinical and scientific communities with regard to whether this approval represents a calculated and balanced compassionate decision versus a disturbing precedent.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- University of Maryland, Baltimore, Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - John C Lewin
- National Coalition on Health Care, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Rizk JG, Hsiung JT, Arif Y, Hashemi L, Sumida K, Kovesdy CP, Kalantar-Zadeh K, Streja E. Triglycerides and Renal Outcomes According to Albuminuria and in Consideration of Other Metabolic Syndrome Components in Diabetic US Veterans. Am J Nephrol 2023; 54:14-24. [PMID: 36889289 PMCID: PMC10500632 DOI: 10.1159/000529414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hypertriglyceridemia, a component of the metabolic syndrome, is a known independent predictor of albuminuria and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general population. Previous studies have shown that the relationship of triglycerides (TGs) with outcomes changes across stages of CKD. Our objective was to examine the association of TG independent of other metabolic syndrome components with renal outcomes in diabetic patients with or without CKD. METHODS This retrospective cohort study included diabetic US veteran patients with valid data on TGs, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and albuminuria (urinary albumin/creatinine ratio) between fiscal years 2004 and 2006. Using Cox models adjusted for clinical characteristics and laboratory markers, we evaluated the relationship of TG with incident albuminuria (stratified by eGFR category) and based on eGFR (stratified by baseline albuminuria categories). To evaluate the relationship of TG with time to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), we stratified models by baseline CKD stage (eGFR category) and baseline albuminuria stage ascertained at time of TG measurement. RESULTS In a cohort of 138,675 diabetic veterans, the mean ± SD age was 65 ± 11 years old and included 3% females and 14% African Americans. The cohort also included 28% of patients with non-dialysis-dependent CKD (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2), as well as 28% of patients with albuminuria (≥30 mg/g). The median (IQR) of serum TG was 148 (100, 222) mg/dL. We observed a slight positive linear association between TG and incident CKD after adjustment for Case-Mix and Laboratory variables among non-albuminuric and microalbuminuric patients. The relationship of high TG trended towards a higher risk of ESRD in CKD 3A non-albuminuric patients and in CKD 3A and 4/5 patients with microalbuminuria. CONCLUSION In a large cohort, we have shown that elevated TGs are associated with all kidney outcomes tested independently of other metabolic syndrome components in diabetic patients with normal eGFR and normal albumin excretion rate, but the association is weaker in some groups of diabetic patients with preexisting renal complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G. Rizk
- Department of Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD
| | - Jui-Ting Hsiung
- Harold Simmons Center for Kidney Disease Research and Epidemiology, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA
- Nephrology Section, Tibor Rubin Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, CA
| | - Yousif Arif
- Harold Simmons Center for Kidney Disease Research and Epidemiology, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA
| | - Leila Hashemi
- Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Department of General Internal Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Keiichi Sumida
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
| | - Csaba P. Kovesdy
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN
- VA Memphis Medical Center, Memphis, TN
| | - Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh
- Harold Simmons Center for Kidney Disease Research and Epidemiology, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA
- Nephrology Section, Tibor Rubin Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, CA
| | - Elani Streja
- Harold Simmons Center for Kidney Disease Research and Epidemiology, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of California Irvine Medical Center, Orange, CA
- Nephrology Section, Tibor Rubin Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, CA
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Rizk JG, Lazo JG, Gupta A, Lavie CJ, Effron MB. Proposal for a Simple Algorithmic Approach to Manage Drug-Drug Interactions of Oral Anticoagulants with Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir in COVID-19 Outpatients. Semin Thromb Hemost 2023; 49:85-88. [PMID: 35738295 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1750024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jose G Lazo
- Department of Pharmacy, UCSF Medical Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Aashish Gupta
- Department of Cardiology, John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Carl J Lavie
- Department of Cardiology, John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Mark B Effron
- Department of Cardiology, John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
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Rizk JG, Gupta A, Lazo JG, Sardar P, Henry BM, Lavie CJ, Effron MB. To Anticoagulate or Not to Anticoagulate in COVID-19: Lessons after 2 Years. Semin Thromb Hemost 2023; 49:62-72. [PMID: 35468641 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1744302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
A hypercoagulable state associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been well documented and is believed to be strongly supported by a proinflammatory state. The hypercoagulable state in turn results in increased incidence of arterial and venous thromboembolism (VTE) seen in hospitalized COVID-19 when compared with hospitalized non-COVID-19 patient cohorts. Moreover, patients with arterial or VTE and COVID-19 have higher mortality compared with COVID-19 patients without arterial or VTE. Prevention of arterial or VTE thus remains an essential question in the management of COVID-19 patients, especially because of high rates of reported microvascular and macrovascular thrombosis. This has prompted multiple randomized control trials (RCTs) evaluating different anticoagulation strategies in COVID-19 patients at various stages of the disease. Herein, we review findings from RCTs in the past 2 years of antithrombotic therapy in critically ill hospitalized patients, noncritically ill hospitalized patients, patients postdischarge from the hospital, and outpatients. RCTs in critically ill patients demonstrated therapeutic dose anticoagulation does not improve outcomes and has more bleeding than prophylaxis dose anticoagulant in these patients. Trials in noncritically ill hospitalized patients showed a therapeutic dose anticoagulation with a heparin formulation might improve clinical outcomes. Anticoagulation with a direct oral anticoagulant posthospital discharge may improve outcomes, although there is a large RCT in progress. Nonhospitalized COVID-19 patients have an insufficient burden of events to be candidates for antithrombotic therapy. Anticoagulation in pregnant and lactating patients with COVID-19, as well as antiplatelet therapy for COVID-19, is also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Aashish Gupta
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Jose G Lazo
- UCSF Medical Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Partha Sardar
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Brandon Michael Henry
- Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.,Disease Prevention and Intervention & Population Health Programs, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Carl J Lavie
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Mark B Effron
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
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Rizk JG, Lavie CJ, Henry BM. Against Therapeutic Anticoagulation in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients. Semin Thromb Hemost 2023; 49:79-80. [PMID: 36055259 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1756185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Carl J Lavie
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
| | - Brandon Michael Henry
- Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
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8
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Rizk JG, Streja E, Wenziger C, Shlipak MG, Norris KC, Crowley ST, Kalantar-Zadeh K. Serum Creatinine-to-Cystatin-C Ratio as a Potential Muscle Mass Surrogate and Racial Differences in Mortality. J Ren Nutr 2023; 33:69-77. [PMID: 34923112 DOI: 10.1053/j.jrn.2021.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Serum creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate equations and muscle mass are powerful markers of health and mortality risk. However, the serum creatinine-to-cystatin-C ratio may be a better indicator of health status. The objective of this study was to describe the relationship between creatinine-to-cystatin-C ratio and all-cause mortality when stratifying patients as per race and as per chronic kidney disease status. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study examining black and nonblack US veterans between October 2004 and September 2019, with baseline cystatin C and creatinine data from those not on dialysis during the study period. Veterans were divided into four creatinine-to-cystatin-C ratio groups: <0.75, 0.75-<1.00, 1.0-<1.25, and ≥1.25. The primary outcome of interest was all-cause mortality subsequent to the cystatin C laboratory measure. RESULTS Among 22,316 US veterans, the mean (± standard deviation) age of the cohort was 67 ± 14 years, 5% were female, 82% were nonblack, and 18% were black. The proportion of black veterans increased across creatinine-to-cystatin-C ratio groups. In the fully adjusted model, compared with the reference (creatinine-to-cystatin-C ratio: 1.00-<1.25), a creatinine-to-cystatin-C ratio <0.75 had the highest mortality risk among both black and nonblack veterans (nonblack: hazard ratio [HR] [95% confidence interval {CI}]: 3.01 [2.78-3.26] and black: 4.17 [3.31-5.24]). A creatinine-to-cystatin-ratio ≥1.25 was associated with lower death risk than the referent in both groups (nonblack: HR [95% CI]: 0.89 [0.80-0.99] and black: HR [95% CI]: 0.55 [0.45-0.69]). However, there was a significant difference in the effect by race (Wald's P-value: <0.01). CONCLUSIONS Higher creatinine-to-cystatin-C ratios indicate better health status and are strongly associated with lower mortality risk regardless of the kidney function level, and the relation was similar for both black and nonblack veterans, but with different strengths of effect across racial groups. Thereby, use of a fixed race coefficient in estimating kidney function may be biased.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
| | - Elani Streja
- Harold Simmons Center for Kidney Disease Research and Epidemiology, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Orange, CA; Division of Nephrology, Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, Long Beach, CA.
| | - Cachet Wenziger
- Harold Simmons Center for Kidney Disease Research and Epidemiology, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Orange, CA; Division of Nephrology, Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, Long Beach, CA
| | - Michael G Shlipak
- Kidney Health Research Collaborative, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco and San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA
| | | | | | - Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh
- Harold Simmons Center for Kidney Disease Research and Epidemiology, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of California Irvine, School of Medicine, Orange, CA; Division of Nephrology, Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, Long Beach, CA
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Rizk JG, Shaya FT. County-Level COVID-19 Vaccination Rates, Non-Communicable Diseases, and Socioeconomic Inequities: Applying Syndemic Theory to Vaccines. J Health Care Poor Underserved 2022; 33:1736-1746. [DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2022.0134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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10
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Rizk JG, Sanchis-Gomar F, Henry BM, Lippi G, Lavie CJ. Coronavirus disease 2019, hypertension, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors. Curr Opin Cardiol 2022; 37:419-423. [PMID: 35913369 DOI: 10.1097/hco.0000000000000982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mostly uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) as cellular receptor for entering the host cells. Some, but not all, animal studies have shown that renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors can increase ACE-2 expression. On that premise, it was hypothesized that these agents could make it more likely to develop coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). On the other hand, there was also evidence that being on these agents could lessen the severity of the lung injury in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Herein, we review the available evidence on the role of RAAS inhibitors on SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 development. RECENT FINDINGS Recent randomized controlled trials demonstrate that RAAS blockade or withdrawal does not influence the severity of COVID-19 in patients who are already on these medications. Currently, there is no evidence to support stopping RAAS inhibitors in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Several questions still need to be addressed. Ongoing studies are currently evaluating the de novo use of RAAS inhibitors in patients with COVID-19. Another area that needs to be investigated is whether or not using these medications increase the risk of infection. SUMMARY The wealth of evidence indicates that ACE inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blocker administration has no harmful effects on hospitalizations and severity of COVID-19 in patients already on these medications and might even reduce mortality among hypertensive patients diagnosed with COVID-19. More evidence and data need to be collected, and at this time, these agents should not be discontinued.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Fabian Sanchis-Gomar
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Brandon M Henry
- The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Giuseppe Lippi
- Section of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Carl J Lavie
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Pharmacy, 220 Arch Street, 12th Floor, Room 01-409-E, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
| | - Giuseppe Lippi
- Section of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Brandon M Henry
- The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Donald N Forthal
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Youssef Rizk
- Division of Family Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Lebanese American University School of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon
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Abstract
Human monkeypox is a zoonotic orthopoxvirus with presentation similar to smallpox. Monkeypox is transmitted incidentally to humans when they encounter infected animals. Reports have shown that the virus can also be transmitted through direct contact (sexual or skin-to-skin), respiratory droplets, and via fomites such as towels and bedding. Multiple medical countermeasures are stockpiled for orthopoxviruses such as monkeypox. Two vaccines are currently available, JYNNEOSTM (live, replication incompetent vaccinia virus) and ACAM2000® (live, replication competent vaccinia virus). While most cases of monkeypox will have mild and self-limited disease, with supportive care being typically sufficient, antivirals (e.g. tecovirimat, brincidofovir, cidofovir) and vaccinia immune globulin intravenous (VIGIV) are available as treatments. Antivirals can be considered in severe disease, immunocompromised patients, pediatrics, pregnant and breastfeeding women, complicated lesions, and when lesions appear near the mouth, eyes, and genitals. The purpose of this short review is to describe each of these countermeasures.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Pharmacy, 220 Arch Street, 12th Floor, Room 01-409-E, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
| | - Giuseppe Lippi
- Section of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Brandon M Henry
- The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Donald N Forthal
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Youssef Rizk
- Division of Family Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Lebanese American University School of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon
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13
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Chiang KC, Rizk JG, Nelson DJ, Krishnamurti L, Subbian S, Imig JD, Khan I, Reddy ST, Gupta A. Ramatroban for chemoprophylaxis and treatment of COVID-19: David takes on Goliath. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2022; 26:13-28. [PMID: 35068281 PMCID: PMC10119876 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2022.2031975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In COVID-19 pneumonia, there is a massive increase in fatty acid levels and lipid mediators with a predominance of cyclooxygenase metabolites, notably TxB2 ≫ PGE2 > PGD2 in the lungs, and 11-dehydro-TxB2, a TxA2 metabolite, in the systemic circulation. While TxA2 stimulates thromboxane prostanoid (TP) receptors, 11-dehydro-TxB2 is a full agonist of DP2 (formerly known as the CRTh2) receptors for PGD2. Anecdotal experience of using ramatroban, a dual receptor antagonist of the TxA2/TP and PGD2/DP2 receptors, demonstrated rapid symptomatic relief from acute respiratory distress and hypoxemia while avoiding hospitalization. AREAS COVERED Evidence supporting the role of TxA2/TP receptors and PGD2/DP2 receptors in causing rapidly progressive lung injury associated with hypoxemia, a maladaptive immune response and thromboinflammation is discussed. An innovative perspective on the dual antagonism of TxA2/TP and PGD2/DP2 receptor signaling as a therapeutic approach in COVID-19 is presented. This paper examines ramatroban an anti-platelet, immunomodulator, and antifibrotic agent for acute and long-haul COVID-19. EXPERT OPINION Ramatroban, a dual blocker of TP and DP2 receptors, has demonstrated efficacy in animal models of respiratory dysfunction, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and sepsis, as well as preliminary evidence for rapid relief from dyspnea and hypoxemia in COVID-19 pneumonia. Ramatroban merits investigation as a promising antithrombotic and immunomodulatory agent for chemoprophylaxis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John G. Rizk
- Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Arizona State University, Edson College, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | | | - Lakshmanan Krishnamurti
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Selvakumar Subbian
- Rutgers University, New Jersey Medical School and Public Health Research Institute, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - John D. Imig
- Drug Discovery Center and Cardiovascular Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Imran Khan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, the University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Srinivasa T. Reddy
- Departments of Medicine, and Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Molecular Toxicology Interdepartmental Degree Program, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ajay Gupta
- Charak Foundation, Orange, CA
- Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA
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14
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Rizk JG, Wenziger C, Tran D, Hashemi L, Moradi H, Streja E, Ahluwalia A. Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor and Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Use Associated with Reduced Mortality and Other Disease Outcomes in US Veterans with COVID-19. Drugs 2021; 82:43-54. [PMID: 34914085 PMCID: PMC8675115 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-021-01639-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Objective To determine the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) use and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity and outcomes in US veterans. Patients and Methods We retrospectively examined 27,556 adult US veterans who tested positive for COVID-19 between March to November 2020. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models using propensity score (PS) for weight, adjustment, and matching were used to examine the odds of an event within 60 days following a COVID-19–positive case date and time to death, respectively, according to ACEI and/or ARB prescription within 6 months prior to the COVID-19–positive case date. Results The overlap PS weighted logistic regression model showed lower odds of an intensive care unit (ICU) admission (odds ratio [OR] 95% CI 0.77, 0.61–0.98) and death within 60 days (0.87, 0.79–0.97) with an ACEI or ARB prescription. Veterans with an ARB-only prescription also had lower odds of an ICU admission (0.64, 0.44–0.92). The overlap PS weighted model similarly showed a lower risk of time to all-cause mortality in veterans with an ACEI or ARB prescription (HR [95% CI]: 0.87, 0.79–0.97) and an ARB only prescription (0.78, 0.67–0.91). Veterans with an ACEI prescription had higher odds of experiencing a septic event within 60 days after the COVID-19–positive case date (1.22, 1.02–1.46). Conclusion In this study of a national cohort of US veterans, we found that the use of an ACEI/ARB in patients with COVID-19 was not associated with increased mortality and other worse outcomes. Future studies should examine underlying pathways and further confirm the relationship of ACEI prescription with sepsis. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40265-021-01639-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Arizona State University, Edson College, Phoenix, AZ, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Cachet Wenziger
- Research, Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, VA Long Beach Healthcare System, 5901 East 7th Street, Long Beach, CA, 90822, USA.,Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Harold Simmons Center for Kidney Disease Research and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Diana Tran
- Research, Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, VA Long Beach Healthcare System, 5901 East 7th Street, Long Beach, CA, 90822, USA.,Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Harold Simmons Center for Kidney Disease Research and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Leila Hashemi
- Greater Los Angeles VA Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,UCLA Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hamid Moradi
- Research, Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, VA Long Beach Healthcare System, 5901 East 7th Street, Long Beach, CA, 90822, USA.,Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Harold Simmons Center for Kidney Disease Research and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA
| | - Elani Streja
- Research, Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, VA Long Beach Healthcare System, 5901 East 7th Street, Long Beach, CA, 90822, USA. .,Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Harold Simmons Center for Kidney Disease Research and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, USA.
| | - Amrita Ahluwalia
- Research, Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center, VA Long Beach Healthcare System, 5901 East 7th Street, Long Beach, CA, 90822, USA.
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15
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Carpenè G, Onorato D, Nocini R, Fortunato G, Rizk JG, Henry BM, Lippi G. Blood lactate concentration in COVID-19: a systematic literature review. Clin Chem Lab Med 2021; 60:332-337. [PMID: 34856090 DOI: 10.1515/cclm-2021-1115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious respiratory condition sustained by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which manifests prevalently as mild to moderate respiratory tract infection. Nevertheless, in a number of cases the clinical course may deteriorate, with onset of end organ injury, systemic dysfunction, thrombosis and ischemia. Given the clinical picture, baseline assessment and serial monitoring of blood lactate concentration may be conceivably useful in COVID-19. We hence performed a systematic literature review to explore the possible association between increased blood lactate levels, disease severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients, including comparison of lactate values between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. We carried out an electronic search in Medline and Scopus, using the keywords "COVID-19" OR "SARS-CoV-2" AND "lactate" OR "lactic acid" OR "hyperlactatemia", between 2019 and present time (i.e. October 10, 2021), which allowed to identify 19 studies, totalling 6,459 patients. Overall, we found that COVID-19 patients with worse outcome tend to display higher lactate values than those with better outcome, although most COVID-19 patients in the studies included in our analysis did not have sustained baseline hyperlactatemia. Substantially elevated lactate values were neither consistently present in all COVID-19 patients who developed unfavourable clinical outcomes. These findings suggest that blood lactate monitoring upon admission and throughout hospitalization may be useful for early identification of higher risk of unfavourable COVID-19 illness progression, though therapeutic decisions based on using conventional hyperlactatemia cut-off values (i.e., 2.0 mmol/L) upon first evaluation may be inappropriate in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Carpenè
- Department of Neurosciences, Section of Clinical Biochemistry, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Diletta Onorato
- Department of Neurosciences, Section of Clinical Biochemistry, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Riccardo Nocini
- Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Paediatrics and Gynaecology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Fortunato
- Department of Neurosciences, Section of Clinical Biochemistry, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - John G Rizk
- Arizona State University, Edson College, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Brandon M Henry
- Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Host-Pathogen Interactions & Population Health Programs, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Giuseppe Lippi
- Department of Neurosciences, Section of Clinical Biochemistry, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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16
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Rizk JG, Lazo JG, Quan D, Gabardi S, Rizk Y, Streja E, Kovesdy CP, Kalantar-Zadeh K. Mechanisms and management of drug-induced hyperkalemia in kidney transplant patients. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2021; 22:1157-1170. [PMID: 34292479 DOI: 10.1007/s11154-021-09677-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Hyperkalemia is a common and potentially life-threatening complication following kidney transplantation that can be caused by a composite of factors such as medications, delayed graft function, and possibly potassium intake. Managing hyperkalemia after kidney transplantation is associated with increased morbidity and healthcare costs, and can be a cause of multiple hospital admissions and barriers to patient discharge. Medications used routinely after kidney transplantation are considered the most frequent culprit for post-transplant hyperkalemia in recipients with a well-functioning graft. These include calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) prophylactic agents, and antihypertensives (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta blockers). CNIs can cause hyperkalemic renal tubular acidosis. When hyperkalemia develops following transplantation, the potential offending medication may be discontinued, switched to another agent, or dose-reduced. Belatacept and mTOR inhibitors offer an alternative to calcineurin inhibitors in the event of hyperkalemia, however should be prescribed in the appropriate patient. While trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) remains the gold standard for prevention of PCP, alternative agents (e.g. dapsone, atovaquone) have been studied and can be recommend in place of TMP/SMX. Antihypertensives that act on the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System are generally avoided early after transplant but may be indicated later in the transplant course for patients with comorbidities. In cases of mild to moderate hyperkalemia, medical management can be used to normalize serum potassium levels and allow the transplant team additional time to evaluate the function of the graft. In the immediate post-operative setting following kidney transplantation, a rapidly rising potassium refractory to medical therapy can be an indication for dialysis. Patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (ZS-9) may play an important role in the management of chronic hyperkalemia in kidney transplant patients, although additional long-term studies are necessary to confirm these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Arizona State University, Edson College, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
| | - Jose G Lazo
- UCSF Medical Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - David Quan
- UCSF Medical Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steven Gabardi
- Department of Transplant Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Youssef Rizk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Family Medicine, Lebanese American University Medical Center - St. John's Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Elani Streja
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation, School of Medicine, University of California, CA, Irvine, Orange, USA
| | - Csaba P Kovesdy
- Division of Nephrology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation, School of Medicine, University of California, CA, Irvine, Orange, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of California, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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17
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Edson College, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA -
| | - Giuseppe Lippi
- Section of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Youssef Rizk
- Division of Family Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Lebanese American University Medical Center - St. John's Hospital, Beirut, Lebanon
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18
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Rizk JG, Barr CE, Rizk Y, Lewin JC. The next frontier in vaccine safety and VAERS: Lessons from COVID-19 and ten recommendations for action. Vaccine 2021; 39:6017-6018. [PMID: 34400020 PMCID: PMC8352656 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Arizona State University, Edson College, Phoenix, AZ, United States.
| | - Charles E Barr
- Pivotal Strategic Consulting, LLC, Danville, CA, United States; Diya Health, Oakland, CA, United States
| | - Youssef Rizk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Family Medicine, Lebanese American University Medical Center - St. John's Hospital, Lebanon
| | - John C Lewin
- National Coalition on Health Care, Washington, DC, United States
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19
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Rizk JG, Gupta A, Sardar P, Henry BM, Lewin JC, Lippi G, Lavie CJ. Clinical Characteristics and Pharmacological Management of COVID-19 Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia With Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: A Review. JAMA Cardiol 2021; 6:1451-1460. [PMID: 34374713 DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2021.3444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Importance The COVID-19 pandemic saw one of the fastest developments of vaccines in an effort to combat an out-of-control pandemic. The 2 most common COVID-19 vaccine platforms currently in use, messenger RNA (mRNA) and adenovirus vector, were developed on the basis of previous research in use of this technology. Postauthorization surveillance of COVID-19 vaccines has identified safety signals, including unusual cases of thrombocytopenia with thrombosis reported in recipients of adenoviral vector vaccines. One of the devastating manifestations of this syndrome, termed vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), is cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). This review summarizes the current evidence and indications regarding biology, clinical characteristics, and pharmacological management of VITT with CVST. Observations VITT appears to be similar to heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), with both disorders associated with thrombocytopenia, thrombosis, and presence of autoantibodies to platelet factor 4 (PF4). Unlike VITT, HIT is triggered by recent exposure to heparin. Owing to similarities between these 2 conditions and lack of high-quality evidence, interim recommendations suggest avoiding heparin and heparin analogues in patients with VITT. Based on initial reports, female sex and age younger than 60 years were identified as possible risk factors for VITT. Treatment consists of therapeutic anticoagulation with nonheparin anticoagulants and prevention of formation of autoantibody-PF4 complexes, the latter being achieved by administration of high-dose intravenous immunoglobin (IVIG). Steroids, which can theoretically inhibit the production of new antibodies, have been used in combination with IVIG. In severe cases, plasma exchange should be used for clearing autoantibodies. Monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab and eculizumab, can be considered when other therapies fail. Routine platelet transfusions, aspirin, and warfarin should be avoided because of the possibility of worsening thrombosis and magnifying bleeding risk. Conclusions and Relevance Adverse events like VITT, while uncommon, have been described despite vaccination remaining the most essential component in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. While it seems logical to consider the use of types of vaccines (eg, mRNA-based administration) in individuals at high risk, treatment should consist of therapeutic anticoagulation mostly with nonheparin products and IVIG.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Arizona State University, Edson College, Phoenix, Arizona
| | - Aashish Gupta
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Partha Sardar
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Brandon Michael Henry
- The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - John C Lewin
- National Coalition on Health Care, Washington, DC
| | - Giuseppe Lippi
- Section of Clinical Biochemistry, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Carl J Lavie
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
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20
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Arizona State University, Edson College, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Carl J Lavie
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Ajay Gupta
- Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
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21
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Rizk JG, Forthal DN, Kalantar-Zadeh K, Mehra MR, Lavie CJ, Rizk Y, Pfeiffer JP, Lewin JC. Expanded Access Programs, compassionate drug use, and Emergency Use Authorizations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drug Discov Today 2020; 26:593-603. [PMID: 33253920 PMCID: PMC7694556 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2020.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Expanded Access (EA) Program, which allows for compassionate uses of unapproved therapeutics and diagnostics outside of clinical trials, has gained significant traction during the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. While development of vaccines has been the major focus, uncertainties around new vaccine safety and effectiveness have spawned interest in other pharmacological options. Experimental drugs can also be approved under the FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) program, designed to combat infectious disease and other threats. Here, we review the US experience in 2020 with pharmacological EA and EUA approvals during the pandemic. We also provide a description of, and clinical rationale for, each of the EA- or EUA-approved drugs (e.g. remdesivir, convalescent plasma, propofol 2%, hydroxychloroquine, ruxolitinib, bamlanivimab, baricitinib, casirivimab plus imdevimab) during the pandemic and concluding reflections on the EA program and its potential future uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Edson College, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
| | - Donald N Forthal
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh
- Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mandeep R Mehra
- Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carl J Lavie
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School - the University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Youssef Rizk
- Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - John C Lewin
- National Coalition on Health Care, Washington, DC, USA
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22
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Rizk JG, Kalantar-Zadeh K, Mehra MR, Lavie CJ, Rizk Y, Forthal DN. Authors' Reply to Vrachatis et al. "Pharmaco-Immunomodulatory Therapy I COVID-19". Drugs 2020; 80:1501-1503. [PMID: 32880806 PMCID: PMC7471515 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-020-01396-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Edson College, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
| | - Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh
- Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Tibor Rubin VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Mandeep R Mehra
- Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carl J Lavie
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-the University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Youssef Rizk
- Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Donald N Forthal
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
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23
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Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 associated coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness is a syndrome of viral replication in concert with a host inflammatory response. The cytokine storm and viral evasion of cellular immune responses may play an equally important role in the pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, and outcomes of COVID-19. Systemic proinflammatory cytokines and biomarkers are elevated as the disease progresses towards its advanced stages, and correlate with worse chances of survival. Immune modulators have the potential to inhibit cytokines and treat the cytokine storm. A literature search using PubMed, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted through 8 July 2020 using the search terms ‘coronavirus’, ‘immunology’, ‘cytokine storm’, ‘immunomodulators’, ‘pharmacology’, ‘severe acute respiratory syndrome 2’, ‘SARS-CoV-2’, and ‘COVID-19’. Specific immune modulators include anti-cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 receptor antagonists (e.g. anakinra, tocilizumab, sarilumab, siltuximab), Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors (e.g. baricitinib, ruxolitinib), anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (e.g. adalimumab, infliximab), granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factors (e.g. gimsilumab, lenzilumab, namilumab), and convalescent plasma, with promising to negative trials and other data. Non-specific immune modulators include human immunoglobulin, corticosteroids such as dexamethasone, interferons, statins, angiotensin pathway modulators, macrolides (e.g. azithromycin, clarithromycin), hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, colchicine, and prostaglandin D2 modulators such as ramatroban. Dexamethasone 6 mg once daily (either by mouth or by intravenous injection) for 10 days may result in a reduction in mortality in COVID-19 patients by one-third for patients on ventilators, and by one-fifth for those receiving oxygen. Research efforts should focus not only on the most relevant immunomodulatory strategies but also on the optimal timing of such interventions to maximize therapeutic outcomes. In this review, we discuss the potential role and safety of these agents in the management of severe COVID-19, and their impact on survival and clinical symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Rizk
- Edson College, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
| | - Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh
- Division of Nephrology, Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Tibor Rubin VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA, USA
| | - Mandeep R Mehra
- Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carl J Lavie
- John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, Ochsner Clinical School-The University of Queensland School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Youssef Rizk
- Department of Family Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Donald N Forthal
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
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