Introduction: Data on the epidemiology and management of anorexia nervosa (AN) in the intensive care unit (ICU) are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and associated morbidity and mortality of AN in French ICUs. Methods: We randomly selected 30 ICUs throughout France. Thereafter, we retrospectively analyzed all patients with AN admitted to any of these 30 ICUs between May 2006 and May 2008. We considered demographic data, diagnosis at admission and complications occurring during the stay, focusing on refeeding syndrome and management of refeeding. Results: Eleven of the 30 ICUs participated in the retrospective study, featuring 68 patients, including 62 women. Average body mass index at the admission was 12 ± 3 kg/m2. Twenty one were mechanically ventilated, mainly for neurological reasons. The reported average calorie intake was 22.3 ± 13 kcal/kg/24 h. Major diagnoses at admission were metabolic problems, refeeding survey and voluntary drug intoxication and infection. The most common complications were metabolic, hematological, hepatic, and infectious events, of which 10% occurred during refeeding. Seven patients developed refeeding syndrome. At day one, the average calorie intake was higher for patients who developed refeeding syndrome (23.2 ± 5 Kcal/kg/j; n = 7) versus patients without refeeding syndrome (14.1 ± 3 Kcal/kg/j; n = 61) P = 0.02. Seven patients died, two from acute respiratory distress syndrome and five from multiorgan-failure associated with major hydroelectrolytic problems. Conclusions: The frequency of AN in ICU patients is very low and the crude mortality in this group is about 10%. Prevention and early-detection of refeeding syndrome is the key point.

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) demonstrate a lower risk–benefit ratio than vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for secondary thromboprophylaxis of thrombotic events. But there are no data on the efficacy of DOACs for the prevention of thrombotic recurrence in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of DOACs to prevent recurrences of thrombotic events in patients with APS. This was a single-center pilot, using a multi-step Fleming design. If seven or fewer patients presented treatment failure with rivaroxaban, the study could conclude efficacy. A total of 23 patients were included. APS involved the veins only (n = 19), arteries only (n = 2) or both (n = 1) and 1 patient exhibited catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS). Overall, two patients were positive for lupus anticoagulant, anti-beta-2 glycoprotein I antibodies and anticardiolipid antibodies (triple positivity). The mean duration of follow up was 35.6 (range, 29–40) months. A total of six treatment failures were reported: one patient, with triple positivity, developed bilateral distal pulmonary embolism (PE) after 20 months of treatment with rivaroxaban, two patients refused to take rivaroxaban, the treatment was stopped in three other patients: two with adverse effects and one with chronic iron-deficiency anemia. Rivaroxaban may represent an alternative for secondary thromboprophylaxis for thrombo-embolism in patients with APS, in particular, those with poor international normalized ratio (INR) control and those who are not at the highest risk of recurrent thrombosis, such as those with triple positivity.

Background: Systematic iron supplementation may be harmful in pregnant women with non-depleted iron. Our objectives were to estimate the prevalence of anemia at the third trimester of pregnancy (T3) and to identify the parameters at the first trimester (T1), which best predict anemia at T3. Methods: This prospective cohort study in France included pregnant women at T1 without non-iron deficiency anemia. Clinical and social characteristics, health-related quality of life, blood count, and a frozen blood sample were collected at T1 and/or T3. Secondly, a matched nested case–control study was built for women with anemia at T3 but not at T1. Multivariate analyses and ROC curves were used to identify the best predictive parameter(s) of anemia at T3. Results: The prevalence of anemia at T3 in the cohort (629 women) was 21.9% (95% CI 18.7–25.2%). In the matched nested case–control study (256 women), hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin (SF) and the SF/soluble transferrin receptor ratio at T1 were predictive of anemia at T3 (p < 0.001); however, clinical and social characteristics, as serum hepcidin were not. In multivariate analyses, Hb at T1 was the best predictive biomarker of anemia at T3 with a cut-off value of 120 g/L (specificity 87.5%). Conclusions: The prevalence of anemia at the end of pregnancy remained high in a High-Income Country. Clinical, social, and biochemical parameters did not seem useful to predict anemia at T3 and could not guide iron supplementation. We suggest systematically performing a simple blood count in the first trimester of pregnancy and offering oral iron supplementation for women with Hb < 120 g/L.

Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutritional deficiency. ID diagnosis requires ferritin measurement because clinical findings are poor and nonspecific. We studied the diagnostic value of blue sclera, which was scarcely reported as a specific and sensitive sign of ID. We enrolled 74 patients suspected of having ID. Pictures of their eyes were taken using a smartphone under similar daylight conditions. Three independent physicians graded the scleral color, and a computer analysis yielded the blue percentile of the sclera image. Final analysis included 67 patients (mean age 59.9 ± 20.1 years). Fifty-one had ID. Subjective blue scleral color was associated with ID for physician 1 (64.5% vs. 86.1%, p = 0.03). Sensitivity was 60.8% (CI95: 46.1%; 74.2%), specificity 68.8% (CI95: 41.3%; 89%), and positive predictive value 86.1% (CI95: 70.5%; 95.3%). A marginal difference was observed for other physicians (p = 0.05). Computer analysis showed higher blue in the ID group (p = 0.04). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.7 (0.54; 0.85). Sensitivity was 78.4% (CI95: 63.7%; 88.7%), specificity was 50% (CI95: 24.7%; 75.3%). Assessment of blue sclera was not influenced by iris color, sex, or anemia. We showed that blue sclera has good positive predictive value for ID diagnosis, and computer analysis was correlated to clinical assessment. Improvement of this innovative, non-invasive method could provide an easy handling and inexpensive diagnosis tool for ID.