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Background Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, several inflammatory markers have been investigated as possible predictors of survival. Ferritin and from recently LDH have emerged as a possible marker that could serve to this purpose, with different cut-off levels than standard. Furthermore, serum elevations of these markers were reported in other viral infections such as dengue fever; while it has not been reported in MERS and SARS outbreaks and possibly making a biochemical distinction between COVID-19 and other similar diseases. The aim of this research was to establish independent admission levels of ferritin and LDH that predict lethal outcome more accurately. Methods In this prospective cohort study all the patients were hospitalized at UKC, B&H (n=137), between 28th of March and 1st of August 2020. The criteria for hospitalization was based on MEWS score, and all the inflammatory markers were evaluated in the first 72 hours of admission. Cut-off values of serum ferritin levels were set at 1500 ng/mL and LDH 350 U/L. Results Patients with serum ferritin levels >1500 ng/mL had 7.304 OR (CI95% 1.956-27.277; p=0.003) higher for lethal outcome than the group with 350 U/I had 5.560 (CI95% 2.480-12.468; pDiscussion Serum levels of ferritin >1500 ng/ml and LDH >350 U/L increase OR of lethal outcome. The levels of these inflammatory markers indicate the degree of inflammatory response and severity of the disaese as well as the possible outcome of the disease. Together these two markers could be used as predictors in clinical settings and treatment planning of patients with COVID-19.Conclusion: Together these two markers could be used as predictors in clinical settings and treatment planning of patients with COVID-19.

A 37-year-old man presented with jaundice, upper right quadrant pain, and intermittent fever with chills. Laboratory assessment showed biliary stasis, with total bilirubin of 203 µmol/L (2–20), conjugated bilirubin of 105 µmol/L, and alkaline phosphatase of 556 U/L (30–120). Markers for hepatitis A–E viruses were negative. Serology assessment for rubeola, herpes simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, and Toxoplasma gondii showed negative IgM antibodies. HIV serology status was negative. For cytomegalovirus, both types of antibodies (IgM and IgG) were positive, with an IgM level >300 U/mL. pp65 antigen was also detected as well as CMV DNA. Diagnostic imaging of the abdomen except the dilated common bile duct showed a normal appearance of the gallbladder, liver, pancreas, spleen, and both kidneys. To our knowledge, cytomegalovirus cholangiopathy in the absence of any other underlying disease has not been reported. Therefore, the presence of cholangiopathy in our patient is interesting from an imaging, laboratory, and clinical point of view.

Essentials D-dimer could provide important information about abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) progression. The greatest diameter of the infrarenal aorta and the value of plasma D-dimer were determined. AAA progression is correlated with increasing plasma D-dimer levels. The increasing value of plasma D-dimer could be a predictor of aneurysm progression.Background The natural course of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is mostly asymptomatic and unpredictable. D-dimer could provide potentially important information about subsequent AAA progression. Objectives The aims of this study were to establish the relationship between the progression of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and plasma D-dimer concentration over a 12-month period and determine the value of plasma D-dimer in patients with sub-aneurysmal aortic dilatation. Patients/Methods This was a prospective observational study that involved 33 patients with an AAA, 30 patients with sub-aneurysmal aortic dilatation and 30 control subjects. The greatest diameter of the infrarenal aorta, which was assessed by ultrasound, and the value of plasma D-dimer were determined for all subjects at baseline assessment, as well as after 12 months for those with an AAA. Results A positive correlation was found between the diameter of an AAA and plasma D-dimer concentration at the baseline and the control measurement stages. There was a strong positive correlation between AAA progression and increasing plasma D-dimer concentration over a 12-month period. Among patients with sub-aneurysmal aortic dilatation (n = 30), the value of plasma D-dimer was higher compared with matched controls (n = 30). Conclusions There is a strongly positive correlation between AAA progression and increasing plasma D-dimer concentration. The value of plasma D-dimer is higher in patients with sub-aneurysmal aortic dilatation than in control subjects.

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) is one of the Eastern European countries with lacking data on Crohn's disease (CD) epidemiology.We aimed to assess incidence of CD in Tuzla Canton of BH during a 12-year period (1995-2006).We retrospectively evaluated hospital records of both CD inpatients and outpatients residing in Tuzla Canton of BH (total of 496,280 inhabitants) between 1995 and 2006. Patient that satisfied previously described criteria were included in the study. Incidence rates were calculated with age standardisation using European standard population. Trends in incidence were evaluated as moving 3-year averages.During the observed period, 140 patients met the diagnostic criteria for CD. Mean annual incidence was found to be 2.3/10(5) (95% CI=1.6-3.0) inhabitants ranging from 0.20 to 6.45 per 10(5). Mean annual crude incidence during the last 5 years of study (2002-2006) was 4.15/10(5) (95% CI=3.35-4.95). The prevalence of CD, at the end of the observed period was found to be 28.2/10(5) (95% CI=23.5-32.9). CD incidence increased dramatically from 0.27/10(5) in 1995-1997 to 4.84/10(5) in 2004-2006, as well as did the number of colonoscopies performed; from 29 in 1995 to 850 in 2006. We observed almost constant trend of around three new cases of CD per 100 colonoscopies performed.(1)Our area is the region of moderate incidence of CD with the trend that remains toward continuing increase in the rates of CD, which is most likely a direct consequence of the growing number of performed colonoscopies. (2) We believe that in the future years, CD incidence in our region will probably further increase and stabilise at a level of around five cases per 10(5) inhabitants.

Data on prevalence and phenotypic consequences of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2/caspase recruitment domains 15 (NOD2/CARD15) variants in Crohn's disease (CD) population in Poland and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BH) are nonexistent. We aimed to determine the prevalence of NOD2/CARD15 mutations and their association with disease phenotype in Polish and Bosnian patients with CD and in healthy controls. We prospectively recruited 86 CD patients and 83 controls in Poland and 30 CD patients and 30 controls in BH, 229 in total. We determined the prevalence of NOD2/CARD15 mutations and their association with the disease phenotype according to Montreal classification. Participants were genotyped for Leu1007fsinsC and Gly908Arg mutations. At least one CD-associated allele was found in 29/86 (33.7%) of Polish CD patients and in 9/83 (10.8%) of healthy controls (p