Publications by authors named "Sofia Koukidou"
Remission of asthma can occur as part of the natural history of the disease; however, the use of biologics can result in disease remission in some patients. In this post hoc analysis of the RELIght study, we aimed to evaluate clinical remission in real life among patients treated with mepolizumab, to detect possible differences between "remitters" and "nonremitters," and to evaluate possible predictors of remission. Clinical remission was defined as the absence of asthma exacerbations, discontinuation of oral corticosteroids (OCS), achievement of asthma control (Asthma Control Test [ACT] ≥ 20), and stable or improved lung function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAssociation of Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic Therapy and Vitamin E Supplementation with Vitamin K Deficiency-Induced Coagulopathy: A Case Report and Narrative Review of the Literature.
J Pers Med
August 2023
Vitamin K is a lipid-soluble vitamin that is normally maintained within appropriate levels by means of dietary intake and bacterial production in the intestinal microflora. It holds a central role in coagulation homeostasis, and thus its depletion leads to hypocoagulation and haemorrhagic diathesis. The association of antibiotic therapy and vitamin E supplementation with vitamin K deficiency was previously described in animal experiments, clinical studies, and case reports.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The study analyzed COVID-19 patients in Greece to compare baseline characteristics and mortality predictors during the Delta and Omicron variant waves.
- A total of 979 patients were included, with key findings showing Delta patients were younger, required longer hospital stays, and had higher levels of specific biomarkers compared to Omicron patients.
- Despite these differences, there was no significant disparity in mortality risk or ICU admissions between the two groups; factors such as age and certain medical conditions were identified as independent mortality predictors for the Delta patients.
Objectives: Elevated concentrations of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) predict progression to severe respiratory failure (SRF) or death among patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and guide early anakinra treatment. As suPAR testing may not be routinely available in every health-care setting, alternative biomarkers are needed. We investigated the performance of C-reactive protein (CRP), interferon gamma-induced protein-10 (IP-10) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) for predicting SRF or death in COVID-19.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSARS-Cov-2 Infection in Severe Asthma Patients Treated With Biologics.
J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract
October 2022
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to observe the risks of COVID-19 in patients with severe asthma who are treated with biologics during the pandemic.
- Data was collected from 591 severe asthmatics across Greece, revealing that only 4.4% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, with a small number requiring hospitalization.
- Findings suggest that severe asthma patients on biologics do not have a higher risk of COVID-19 infection or adverse outcomes compared to the general population.
Purpose: Tocilizumab is associated with positive outcomes in severe COVID-19. We wanted to describe the characteristics of nonresponders to treatment. Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter study in two respiratory departments investigating adverse outcomes at 90 days from diagnosis in subjects treated with tocilizumab (8 mg/kg intravenously single dose) for severe progressive COVID-19.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Mepolizumab is a monoclonal antibody against IL-5 for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma. The aim of the current study was to present a predesigned interim analysis of the data of patients who have completed 1 year of therapy with mepolizumab.
Methods: This study is a prospective multicenter, noninterventional 2-year observational study and aims to describe the clinical benefit and safety profile of mepolizumab in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma.