A comparative study between methylprednisolone versus dexamethasone as an initial anti-inflammatory treatment of moderate COVID-19 pneumonia: an open-label randomized controlled trial.

Background: The most appropriate anti-inflammatory treatment for moderate COVID-19 pneumonia remains uncertain. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of a high-dose methylprednisolone versus a high-dose dexamethasone in hospitalized moderate COVID-19 pneumonia, regarding the WHO clinical progression scales, mortality, and the length of hospitalization.

Methods: In this open-labeled randomized controlled trial, we enrolled patients with age > 18 years old who were diagnosed moderate COVID-19 pneumonia confirmed by real-time PCR, evidence of pneumonia by chest imaging and resting oxygen saturation between 90 and 94%.

Spontaneous tension hemothorax in a severe COVID-19 patient receiving ECMO therapy: The other side of COVID-19-associated coagulopathy.

As opposed to widely recognized Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated thrombotic events, the unusual but serious bleeding complications in COVID-19 patients are worth-mentioned. Here, we describe a 44-year-old man afflicted by COVID-19 pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and submassive pulmonary embolism. The patient's condition initially improved with the prescription of ECMO, tocilizumab, and hemoadsorption, however, he later developed spontaneous tension hemothorax, which is considered rare but devastating in the setting of COVID-19.