Publications by authors named "Luis Val-Flores"

We report a fatal case of disseminated mpox infection that progressed over more than three months in an HIV-infected patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Mucocutaneous, pleuropulmonary, central nervous system, and gastrointestinal involvement was documented. This course of disease resembles progressive vaccinia, a formerly reported disease caused by uncontrolled replication of smallpox vaccination orthopoxviruses in immunosuppressed patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to compare COVID-19 patient characteristics, clinical management, and outcomes during the peak (weeks 10-16) and plateau (weeks 17-34) phases of the first pandemic wave in Portugal.
  • A total of 541 adult patients, mostly male with a median age of 65, were analyzed, showing no significant differences in age, initial health scores, and 28-day mortality between the two periods.
  • Key findings indicated fewer comorbidities, higher use of certain treatments (like vasopressors and invasive ventilation) during the peak, whereas the plateau saw increased use of different therapies like remdesivir and corticosteroids and shorter ICU stays.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The authors report the case of a 69-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and previous pulmonary tuberculosis, who presented to the emergency department with abdominal and low back pain, anorexia and weight loss, rapidly evolving into shock. An initial CT scan revealed pulmonary condensation with associated cavitation and an iliopsoas mass suggestive of a psoas abscess. He was admitted in an intensive care unit unit; after a careful examination and laboratory assessment, the aetiology was yet undisclosed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The authors report a rare case of shock in a patient without significant clinical history, admitted to the intensive care unit for suspected septic shock. The patient was initially treated with fluid therapy without improvement. A hypothesis of systemic capillary leak syndrome was postulated following the confirmation of severe hypoalbuminemia, hypotension, and hemoconcentration--a combination of three symptoms typical of the disease.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF