Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnętrznej
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This paper provides an overview of the efficacy of vitamin C for preventing and treating respiratory infections. Studies in a wide variety of animals have shown vitamin C to be protective against infections. In controlled trials in the general human population, vitamin C at a dose greater than 1 g/day did not prevent common colds. ⋯ It is unlikely that vitamin C would reduce the risk of pneumonia in the general population; however, 4 trials reported a treatment benefit for pneumonia patients, although the findings encourage further research rather than providing firm evidence of efficacy. Vitamin C has been tested for efficacy in COVID‑19 and sepsis with conflicting results. Given the evidence that vitamin C reduces the severity and duration of the common cold, paired with its good safety profile and low cost, it is not unreasonable for patients to test whether therapeutic vitamin C supplementation at a dose of 6-8 g/day is beneficial at the individual level.
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Pol. Arch. Med. Wewn. · Jan 2025
ReviewAnticoagulation in patients with a history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia who require cardiovascular surgery: is it okay to use heparin?
Heparin‑induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an adverse drug reaction with significant thromboembolic risk. Though there are models for use of nonheparin anticoagulants, heparin remains the preferred anticoagulant in many operative settings, especially cardiovascular surgery and percutaneous cardiac intervention. ⋯ If procedures cannot be delayed, approaches include intraoperative bivalirudin or intraoperative heparin with pre- or intraoperative plasma exchange or a potent antiplatelet agent, sometimes in combination with intravenous immunoglobulin. In subacute HIT B (immunoassay positive, functional assay negative) and remote HIT (immunoassay negative, functional assay negative), brief exposure to heparin in the intraoperative setting with close monitoring postoperatively is suggested due to the low risk of recurrent HIT.