Minimal change disease following COVID-19 vaccination: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

The newly developed COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective and safe. However, a small portion of vaccine recipients experience a wide range of adverse events. Recently, glomerular disease, including the development of Minimal Change Disease (MCD), has been observed after administration of different COVID-19 vaccines, although causality remains a matter of debate.

AIM

The aim of this systematic review was to comprehensively examine the available literature and provide an overview of reported cases of MCD following vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.

RESULTS

We identified 46 eligible articles which included 94 cases with MCD following COVID-19 vaccination of which one case was reported twice due to a second relapse. Fifty-five participants were males (59.1%, 55/93) and 38 (40.9%, 38/93) were females with a mean age of 45.02 years (SD:20.95). From the included patients 50 (50/94, 53.1%) were described as new-onset and 44 (46.9%, 44/94) as relapse. On average, symptomatology developed 16.68 days (SD: 22.85) after the administration of the vaccine irrespective of the dose. Data about symptoms was reported in 68 cases with the most common being oedema (80.8%, 55/68), followed by weight gain (26.5%, 18/68) and hypertension (16.1%, 11/68). In terms of outcome, more than half of the patients went into remission (61%, 57/94), while 18 recovered or improved post treatment (19.1%, 18/94). Two people relapsed after treatment (2.1%, 2/94) and two cases (2.1%, 2/94) were reported as not recovered.

CONCLUSION

MCD is possibly a condition clinicians may see in patients receiving COVID-19 vaccines. Although this adverse event is uncommon, considering the limited published data and the absence of confirmed causality, increased clinical awareness is crucial for the early recognition and optimal management of these patients.

COVID-19 induced type 1 diabetes: A systematic review of case reports and series

AIMS

To provide an overview of reported cases of new-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) following COVID-19 infection.

METHODS

PubMed and Scopus library databases were screened for relevant case reports published between January 2020 and June 2022. Study design, geographic region or language were not restricted.

RESULTS

Twenty studies were identified and involved 37 patients (20 [54%] male, 17 [46%] female). Median age was 11.5 years (range 8 months-33 years) and 31 (84%) patients were aged ≤17 years. Most patients (33, 89%) presented with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). In total, 23 (62%) patients presented at the time of positive COVID-19 testing and 14 (38%) had symptoms consistent with COVID-19 infection or a previous positive test (1-56 days). Diabetes symptomatology was provided in 22 cases and (19, 86%) reported polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, fatigue, or weight loss or a combination of the aforementioned in the preceding weeks (3 days-12 weeks). Of the 28 patients that had data on acute and long-term treatment, all recovered well and most were managed with basal bolus insulin regimens. Quality assessment showed that most reports were either 'good' or 'moderate quality'.

CONCLUSIONS

Although uncommon, new-onset T1D is a condition healthcare professionals may expect to see following a COVID-19 infection.

Primary Melanoma of the Cervix Uteri: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Reported Cases

Primary malignant melanoma (MM) of the cervix uteri is a rare and aggressive malignancy of the female reproductive tract. Considering that clinical data on this cancer are scarce, we aimed to comprehensively examine the currently available literature and provide an overview of the reported cases of cervical MM focusing on the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and therapeutic management. We conducted a systematic review of the literature by screening three electronic databases until June 2022. The critical appraisal checklist provided by the Joanna Briggs Institute was employed to evaluate the overall quality of the studies. We included 96 reports, which comprised 137 patients diagnosed with MM of the cervix. The mean age of the patients was 56.5 (median: 58, age range: 33–88). Data regarding menopausal status were provided for 98 patients with 15 being premenopausal and 83 being postmenopausal. The most common presenting symptom was vaginal bleeding (83%, 100/121). Biopsy (either excisional or punch biopsy) was used as the first diagnostic modality in most of the patients (67%, 64/95), followed by cytology (18%, 17/95). In 74 cases, the FIGO staging system for cervical cancer was used with the most common stage being FIGO stage I (38%, 28/74), followed by FIGO stage II (36%, 27/74), FIGO stage III (19%, 14/74) and FIGO stage IV (7%, 5/74). Most of the patients were managed surgically (90%, 119/131) with a hysterectomy (either radical or total), and a salpingo-oophorectomy with/without lymphadenectomy was the most common approach utilized (40%, 48/119). The data of clinical outcomes were provided for 105 patients, of whom 61 died (58%, 61/105) and 44 survived (42%, 44/105). Knowledge regarding the rare occurrence of MM in the cervix and the increased awareness of clinicians can prevent clinical misdiagnosis and ultimately improve further the clinical outcomes of patients developing this rare malignancy.

Diverticulitis during pregnancy: A review of the reported cases

BACKGROUND

Diverticular disease of the colon represents a common clinical condition in the western world. Its prevalence increases with age and only 5% of cases occur in adults younger than 40 years of age, making it a rare condition during pregnancy. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of the reported cases of diverticulitis during pregnancy.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review of the literature based on preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. We searched three different electronic databases namely PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science from inception to December 2021. Literature search and data extraction were completed in duplicates.

RESULTS

The initial search yielded 564 articles from which 12 were finally included in our review. Ten articles were case reports and two were observational studies. The mean age of the cases was 34 years. The presenting complain was provided for 11 cases. The majority of the patients (10/11, 91%) presented with abdominal pain located mainly on the left (6/11, 55%) or right (4/11, 36%) iliac fossa. The most common diagnostic modality used for the diagnosis of the condition was ultrasonography in nine cases (9/12, 75%) followed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in two cases (2/12, 17%). In spite of clinical and radiological evaluation, the initial diagnosis was inaccurate in seven cases (7/12, 58%). The therapeutic approach was available for 11 cases and it was based on the administration of intravenous antibiotics in six cases (6/11, 55%) and surgical management in five cases (5/11, 45%). Data for the type of delivery was provided in nine studies with five patients (5/9, 56%) delivering vaginally and four patients (4/9, 44%) delivering with cesarean section.

CONCLUSION

As advanced maternal age becomes more common, the frequency of diverticulitis in pregnancy may increase. Although available guidelines do not exist, the clinical awareness, early recognition of the disorder, using diagnostic modalities such as ultrasound and MRI, and rapid therapeutic approach with antibiotics, may improve maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Bone marrow mast cell density correlates with serum levels of VEGF and CXC chemokines ENA-78 and GRO-α in multiple myeloma

Angiogenesis is a crucial process in growth and progression of multiple myeloma (MM). Mast cells (MCs) play an important role in MM angiogenesis. Various angiogenic mediators secreted by MCs regulate endothelial cell proliferation and function. Among them, ELR(+) CXC chemokines, such as growth-related oncogen-alpha (GRO-α) and epithelial neutrophil activating protein-78 (ENA-78), have been described as potential mediators in regulation of angiogenesis. The purpose of the study was to quantify MCs in bone marrow (BM) biopsies of MM patients, expressed as MC density (MCD), and correlate it with serum concentrations of vascular endothelial factor (VEGF), GRO-α, ENA-78. Fifty-four newly diagnosed MM patients and 22 healthy controls were studied. Tryptase was used for the immunohistochemical stain of MCs. VEGF, GRO-α, and ENA-78 were measured in sera by ELISA. MCD and serum levels of GRO-α, ENA-78, and VEGF were significantly higher in MM patients compared to controls (p<0.001 in all cases). MCD was significantly increasing with increased stage of the disease (p<0.001). Furthermore, significant correlations were found between MCD with VEGF, GRO-α, and ENA-78. These findings support that MCs participate in the pathophysiology of MM and is implicated in the angiogenic process and disease progression.