We report 11 cases of combined diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic coma (HHNK) in coronavirus 2019 patients who presented to our institution in New Jersey, USA. The median age was 47 years (range 12-88 years). Out of the 11 patients, 7 were male and 4 were female. Out of 11 patients, 8 had type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), 2 had undiagnosed DM, and 1 had type 1 DM. Presenting complaints included altered mental status, weakness, shortness of breath, cough, fever, vomiting, abdominal pain, chest pain, and foot pain. Out of 11 patients, pneumonia was diagnosed at presentation in 8 patients, while in 3 patients, chest X-ray was clear. Median value of initial glucose on presentation was 974 mg/dL (range 549-1556 mg/dL), and hemoglobin A1c on presentation was 13.8%. The median value of anion gap was 34 mEq/L. Out of the 11 patients, ketonemia was moderate in 6 patients, large in 3, and small in 2 patients. Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurred in 9 patients and 2 patients required renal replacement therapy. Out of the 11 patients, 6 required mechanical ventilation and 7 patients died. All the 6 patients requiring mechanical ventilation died. Our case series shows COVID-19 infection can precipitate acute metabolic complications in known DM patients or as first manifestation in undiagnosed DM patients. Patients can present with DKA/HHNK symptoms and/or respiratory symptoms. Mechanical ventilation is a poor prognostic factor. Further studies are needed to characterize prognostic factors associated with mortality in this vulnerable patient population.
Patient: Female, 31-year-old Final Diagnosis: COVID-19 • SARS-CoV-2 Symptoms: Asymptomatic Medication:— Clinical Procedure: — Specialty: Pediatrics and Neonatology Objective: Unusual clinical course Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a highly infectious virus and is responsible for the current pandemic. It mainly infects cells of the lower respiratory tract and has been linked to severe respiratory complications. Although multiple routes of transmission have been reported in the literature, there is no definitive evidence for transplacental transmission. We present a case of neonatal SARS-CoV-2 likely due to transplacental transmission. Case Report: 31-year-old Hispanic woman in the final week of pregnancy developed mild respiratory symptoms of COVID-19 pneumonia and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. She had a history of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and gestational diabetes. Two days later, she gave birth to a baby girl who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on the first day after birth. She was delivered via elective cesarean section adhering to a strict infection control protocol. Conclusions: This report presents a case of a 31-year-old mother with mild symptoms of COVID-19 pneumonia who was positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection and who gave birth to a baby girl who was also positive for SARS-CoV-2. This case supports the possibility of transplacental transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
To describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). MethodsWe report eight cases of diabetic ketoacidosis in COVID-19 who presented to our institution in New Jersey, USA. COVID-19 was diagnosed by nasopharyngeal swab reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The patients' electronic medical records were reviewed. Data on patients' age, sex, ethnicity, laboratory values, glycosylated hemoglobin level, oral antihyperglycemic agents (OHAs), insulin, and clinical outcomes were collected. ResultsThe median age of the patient was 42.5 years, and seven were males and one was female. Out of eight patients, five had type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), two had undiagnosed DM, and one had type 1 DM. Median value of initial glucose on presentation was 454 mg/dL. Median value of HbA1c on presentation was 11.4% and of anion gap was 26.5 mEq/L. Four patients had large ketonemia, one patient had moderate ketonemia, and three patients had small ketonemia. All the patients were started on standard treatment protocol for DKA with intravenous fluids and IV insulin infusion. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was seen in four patients, and one patient required renal replacement therapy. Out of eight patients, three required mechanical ventilation, and the same three patients died. ConclusionOur case series shows that COVID-19 infection can precipitate DKA in patients with known diabetes mellitus patients or as a first manifestation in undiagnosed DM patients; COVID-19 with DKA is associated with substantial mortality. Further studies are needed to characterize poor risk factors associated with mortality in these patients.
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