We aim to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and reliability of ophthalmologists of various sub-specialties and training levels to detect the activity of corneal ulcers using slit-lamp photographs. An approach to diagnose and guide management of corneal ulcers remotely could make a significant impact in vision outcomes, especially for patients with limited access to eye care. Our goal is to better define the relationship between NT-proBNP and clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients, to assess the predictive value of NT-proBNP as a biomarker for the severity and survival from COVID-19.Īmong corneal diseases, microbial keratitis is the most common cause of corneal blindness and one of the true ocular emergencies leading to vision loss within hours if left untreated. We theorize that COVID-19-related lung injury may be causing cor-pulmonale to elevate NT-proBNP levels, which may carry predictive value. There is limited literature on the use of NT-proBNP for predicting clinical outcomes in COVID-19. However, NT-proBNP is not always routinely checked in clinical practice for admissions related to COVID-19. NT-proBNP also carries prognostic value in lung diseases where elevations have shown to predict cardiopulmonary death and risk of exacerbations in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) without a history of HF. NT-proBNP is an established biomarker for diagnosing and monitoring heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and myocardial injury. Cardiac injury as measured by elevations in troponin and brain natriuretic peptides (BNP) such as the N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP), are associated with a higher risk of mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Older patients and those with risk factors for cardiovascular (CV) disease such as obesity, hypertension (HTN), diabetes (DM), and coronary artery disease (CAD) experience worse outcomes. COVID-19 has transformed our world and presented one of the largest medical challenges of our generation to characterize, prognosticate, and treat.
0 kommentar(er)
