Management of hypertension in COVID-19

The ACE2 receptor plays a central role in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 host cell entry and propagation.It has therefore been postulated that angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers may upregulate ACE2 expression and thus increase susceptibility to infection.We suggest that alternative anti-hypertensive agents should be preferred among individuals who may be exposed to this increasingly common and potentially lethal virus.

Sarcoma-associated sarcoid reaction: Report of cutaneous sarcoid reaction in a patient with liposarcoma

Sarcoidosis is a systemic inflammatory condition in which noncaseating epithelioid cell granulomas appear within one or several body sites. Sarcoid reaction(also referred to as sarcoidal or sarcoid-like reaction) occurs in patients who do not fulfill the diagnostic criteria for systemic sarcoidosis but present with similar clinical and histological features. As sarcoma-associated sarcoid reactions are rare, we describe the features of sarcoid reaction that developed in a man with liposarcoma and summarize reports of other oncology patients with sarcoma-associated sarcoid reactions. A 68-yearold man with retroperitoneal liposarcoma presented for evaluation of erythematous dermal plaques on his left leg. Microscopic examination of a tissue specimen revealed multiple epithelioid granulomas in the superficial and mid-reticular dermis. Correlation of the clinical presentation and histopathologic findings established a diagnosis of liposarcoma-associated cutaneous sarcoid reaction. Sarcoid reactions have been described in only seven individuals with sarcoma, including two patients with leiomyosarcoma and one patient with either carcinosarcoma, Kaposi sarcoma, liposarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, rhabdosarcoma, or synovial sarcoma. Sarcoidal granulomas most commonly develop within the locoregional draining lymph nodes. Sarcoid reactions may also affect other organs, such as the lungs, skin, and spleen.

Cardiac adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors in oncology patients:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)are novel therapeutic agents used for various types of cancer.ICIs have revolutionized cancer treatment and improved clinical outcomes among cancer patients.However,immune-related adverse effects of ICI therapy are common.Cardiovascular immune-related adverse events(irAEs)are rare but potentially life-threatening complications.AIM To estimate the incidence of cardiovascular irAEs among patients undergoing ICI therapy for various malignancies.METHODS We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis by searching PubMed,Cochrane CENTRAL,Web of Science,and SCOPUS databases for relevant interventional trials reporting cardiovascular irAEs.We performed a single-arm meta-analysis using OpenMeta[Analyst]software of the following outcomes:Myocarditis,pericardial effusion,heart failure,cardiomyopathy,atrial fibrillation,myocardial infarction,and cardiac arrest.We assessed the heterogeneity using the I2 test and managed to solve it with Cochrane’s leave-one-out method.The risk of bias was performed with the Cochrane’s risk of bias tool.RESULTS A total of 26 studies were included.The incidence of irAEs follows:Myocarditis:0.5%[95%confidence interval(CI):0.1%-0.9%];Pericardial effusion:0.5%(95%CI:0.1%-1.0%);Heart failure:0.3%(95%CI:0.0%-0.5%);Cardiomyopathy:0.3%(95%CI:-0.1%-0.6%);atrial fibrillation:4.6%(95%CI:1.0%-14.1%);Myocardial infarction:0.4%(95%CI:0.0%-0.7%);and Cardiac arrest:0.4%(95%CI:0.1%-0.8%).CONCLUSION The most common cardiovascular irAEs were atrial fibrillation,myocarditis,and pericardial effusion.Although rare,data from post market surveillance will provide estimates of the long-term prevalence and prognosis in patients with ICIassociated cardiovascular complications.