A review of the use of CT pulmonary angiography in pregnant and postpartum women at an academic centre.

Background: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common cause of maternal death during pregnancy and the puerperium yet data on its prevalence in middle-income countries is lacking.

Methods: We examined the medical records and CTPA (computed tomography pulmonary angiography) images of 67 women in an obstetric high care unit during pregnancy and the puerperium. We aimed to determine the prevalence of PE in a high-risk obstetric population undergoing CTPA, assess associated clinical features in this cohort, and determine the prevalence of alternative CT findings.

Critical illness due to infection in people living with HIV.

People living with HIV comprise a substantial number of the patients admitted to intensive care. This number varies according to geography, but all areas of the world are affected. In lower-income and middle-income countries, the majority of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions relate to infections, whereas in high-income countries, they often involve HIV-associated non-communicable diseases diagnoses.

COVID-19: An evaluation of predictive scoring systems in South Africa.

Background: | The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has resulted in more than 700 million cases worldwide. Sepsis and pneumonia severity scores assist in risk assessment of critical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. This allows healthcare workers to triage patients, by using clinical parameters and limited special investigations, thus offering the most appropriate level of care.

An audit of adherence to cervical cancer screening guidelines in a tertiary-level HIV clinic.

Background: Cervical cancer is the most common malignancy affecting South African women aged 15-44 years, with a higher prevalence among women living with HIV (WLWH). Despite recommendations for a screening target of 70%, the reported rate of cervical cancer screening in South Africa is 19.3%.

A Review of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Pregnancy.

Pregnancy is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with increased rates of operative delivery, intensive care unit admission, and mechanical ventilation as well as a possible increased risk of death, independent of other risk factors, compared with nonpregnant women with COVID-19. Furthermore, pregnancy outcomes are worse in those with COVID-19 with increased risk for preeclampsia, venous thromboembolism, preterm birth, miscarriage, and stillbirth compared with pregnant women without COVID-19. Importantly, pregnant women of nonwhite ethnicity appear to be at greater risk of severe COVID-19, necessitating improved access to care and closer monitoring in these women.

A study of the chest imaging findings of adult patients with COVID-19 on admission to a tertiary hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: South Africa has experienced multiple waves of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with little research documenting chest imaging features in an human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) endemic region.

Objectives: Describe the chest imaging features, demographics and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in an urban population.

Method: Retrospective, cross-sectional, review of chest radiographs and computed tomographies (CTs) of adults admitted to a tertiary hospital with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, between 01 May 2020 and 30 June 2020.

Competence of medical and obstetric registrars in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus in pregnancy.

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus has a predilection for women of childbearing age. Globally a shortage of rheumatologists exists resulting in general physicians and obstetricians treating systemic lupus erythematosus in pregnancy.

Methods: We conducted a survey amongst medical and obstetric registrars in South Africa to assess their subjective and objective competence in managing pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Risk factors for COVID-19-related in-hospital mortality in a high HIV and tuberculosis prevalence setting in South Africa: a cohort study.

Background: The interaction between COVID-19, non-communicable diseases, and chronic infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis is unclear, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries in Africa. South Africa has a national HIV prevalence of 19% among people aged 15-49 years and a tuberculosis prevalence of 0·7% in people of all ages. Using a nationally representative hospital surveillance system in South Africa, we aimed to investigate the factors associated with in-hospital mortality among patients with COVID-19.

Age significantly influences the sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antibody assays.

Background: Point-of-care serological assays are a promising tool in COVID-19 diagnostics but do have limitations. Our study evaluated the sensitivity of five rapid antibody assays and explored factors influencing their sensitivity in detecting SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG and IgM antibodies.

Methods: Finger-prick blood samples from 102 participants, within 2-6 weeks of PCR-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, were tested for IgG and IgM using five rapid serological assays.

Comparison of outcomes in HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients with COVID-19.

Background: South Africa has the highest prevalence of HIV in the world and to date has recorded the highest number of cases of COVID-19 in Africa. There is uncertainty as to what the significance of this dual infection is, and whether people living with HIV (PLWH) have worse outcomes compared to HIV-negative patients with COVID-19. This study compared the outcomes of COVID-19 in a group of HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients admitted to a tertiary referral centre in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Fibroblast growth factor-23 in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) develop significant vascular calcification early in life, the cause of which is not yet fully understood. Patients with chronic kidney disease have similar vascular calcification, with fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) implicated in these patients.

Objective: To determine whether there was a difference in FGF23 between patients with HoFH and age- and gender-matched controls and whether there is a correlation between FGF23 and serum low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and carotid intima-media thickness in patients with HoFH.