AbstractBackgroundComprehensive information has been published on laboratory tests which may predict worse outcome in Asian populations with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The aim of this study is to describe laboratory findings in a group of Italian COVID-19 patients in the area of Valcamonica, and correlate abnormalities with disease severity.MethodsThe final study population consisted of 144 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 (70 who died during hospital stay and 74 who survived and could be discharged) between March 1 and 30, 2020, in Valcamonica Hospital. Demographical, clinical and laboratory data were collected upon hospital admission and were then correlated with outcome (i.e. in-hospital death vs. discharge).ResultsCompared to patients who could be finally discharged, those who died during hospital stay displayed significantly higher values of serum glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea, creatinine, high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hscTnI), prothrombin time/international normalized ratio (PT/INR), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), D-dimer, C reactive protein (CRP), ferritin and leukocytes (especially neutrophils), whilst values of albumin, hemoglobin and lymphocytes were significantly decreased. In multiple regression analysis, LDH, CRP, neutrophils, lymphocytes, albumin, APTT and age remained significant predictors of in-hospital death. A regression model incorporating these variables explained 80% of overall variance of in-hospital death.ConclusionsThe most important laboratory abnormalities described here in a subset of European COVID-19 patients residing in Valcamonica are highly predictive of in-hospital death and may be useful for guiding risk assessment and clinical decision-making.

Although comparisons of drug efficacy in non-randomized studies should be viewed with caution, from a virological point of view efavirenz-containing regimens performed as well (on-treatment analysis) or better (ITT analysis) than those containing lopinavir/ritonavir. In contrast, immunological outcome appeared to favour lopinavir/ritonavir.

The present study did not support the routine use of CCI for patients undergoing salvage treatment, probably as a result of existing difficulties associated with its clinical application. However, a higher Ctrough value appeared to be correlated with treatment response. No major differences were found between VPI or GI when they are used together with expert advice for the selection of salvage treatment combinations.

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We have conducted a longitudinal study on factors associated with candidal vaginal colonization, a precursor of vaginitis, in a cohort of HIV-infected women in Italy. All consecutive women attending a single, tertiary care clinical site were offered free screening for sexually transmitted infections and genital disorders every 6-12 months. Candidal vaginal colonization was defined as a positive culture for Candida spp. in an asymptomatic woman. From January 1998 to July 2002 we analysed 214 women. The baseline prevalence of candidal vaginal colonization was 16.8%. In the logistic regression analysis, the time since HIV infection > or =36 months (odds ratio [OR] = 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.016-0.53, P = 0.002) and a plasma viral load > or =10,000 copies/mL (OR = 3.9, 95% CI 1.03-14.9, P = 0.045) were independently associated with candidal colonization. Among 130 women who were followed for a mean period of 24 months, the incidence of vaginal colonization was 10.7/100 women-years. In the Cox regression analysis, a CD4(+) T-lymphocytes count <100 cells/microL during the follow-up was associated with an increased risk of candidal vaginal colonization (OR = 4.45, C.I. = 1.20-16.81, P = 0.03). Risk of candidal vaginal colonization episodes in HIV-infected women significantly increase when CD4(+) T-lymphocytes are less than 100.