A retrospective comparison between influenza and COVID-19-associated ARDS in a Croatian tertiary care center.

Background: Since the beginning of the Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic the new Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronoavirus 2 (SARS-CoV‑2) virus has been repeatedly compared to the influenza virus; however, the comparison of invasively mechanically ventilated patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by these viruses is very scarce. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical course and laboratory parameters between the most severely ill flu and COVID 19 patients treated with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).

Methods: The study was conducted at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the tertiary care hospital in Zagreb, Croatia in the period between November 2018 and July 2020.

Presepsin values as markers of severity of sepsis.

Objectives: Biomarkers are widely used for rapid diagnosis of sepsis. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of presepsin, procalcitonin (PCT), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in differentiating sepsis severity as well as their association with Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score.

Methods: One hundred septic patients from two university clinical centers were enrolled in the study during two time periods.

A case report of severe recurrent varicella in an ankylosing spondylitis patient treated with adalimumab - a new side effect after 15 years of usage.

Background: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) antagonists, most of which are monoclonal antibodies, became a widespread treatment for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, inflammatory bowel diseases, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, hidradenitis suppurativa and uveitis. Their use is based on the blockage of TNF-α, which plays an important role in granulomas formation, development of phagosomes, activation and differentiation of macrophages, immune response against viral pathogens. The multiple adverse effects of TNF-α inhibition have been identified, including a two-to four-fold increased risk of active tuberculosis and other granulomatous conditions and an increased occurrence of some other serious bacterial, fungal and certain viral infections.