Isr Med Assoc J
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic showed the need to evaluate disease severity promptly at the time of hospital admission. ⋯ Abnormal ferritin levels were a very significant and clear indicator of the development of severe COVID-19. The addition of ferritin levels to our protocol aided in finding which patients were at increased risk for morbidity and mortality.
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Management of patients with reported iodinated contrast media (ICM) allergy is not supported by sufficient data. It is assumed that these patients are at risk for severe reactions, and that premedication provides protection. ⋯ ICM allergy is mostly reported in patients with advanced age and multiple co-morbidities. Mortality was not increased when compared to matched non-allergic individuals. Among patients with reported allergy who were injected with ICM, anaphylaxis was not a cause of death, although fewer than half received premedication. Prospective trials are warranted to revise the clinical approach to ICM allergy.