Rheumatic disease and COVID-19: initial data from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance provider registries

No evidence so far on the protective effect of hydroxychloroquine to prevent COVID-19: comment by Joob and Wiwanitkit

“…7 In the initial report that was just published, 19 out of 110 patients had SLE, although no treatment/outcome details were provided specifically for these patients. 8 Additionally, we report two cases of patients with SLE under long-term treatment with hydroxychloroquine, who developed COVID-19 (table 1). Both were young patients, with controlled disease activity prior to the infection.…”

Baseline use of hydroxychloroquine in systemic lupus erythematosus does not preclude SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19

“…[5][6][7] This assumption has been challenged by Monti and Montecucco, 8 referencing data from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance registry on patients with rheumatic disease that previously identified 19/110 (17%) patients with SLE. 9 A case series of 17 patients with lupus or antiphospholipid syndrome who developed COVID-19 on a median HCQ dose of 400 mg daily (median HCQ blood level of 648 ng/mL) has since become available. 10 As of 17 April 2020, we have now identified 80 patients with SLE and COVID-19 in the global physicianreported registry.…”

Successful management of a case of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in an advanced Rheumatoid Arthritis patient by dose reduction of immunosuppressive medication

“…The treatment strategy of RA is based on Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and corticosteroids, hence RA patients have a higher risk of infection, including the COVID-19 [7]. However, limited data are available about the severe case of COVID-19 in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients [8][9][10][11][12].…”

“…In this case report, all the family members were infected with the virus at the same time, only this patient with RA presented with severe respiratory symptoms and needed to be admitted to hospital. These conditions may indicate that a defect in the immune system caused by rheumatoid arthritis or as a result of medication has led the patient to acute respiratory illness caused by contamination with COVID 19 [8]. Informed consent was obtained from the participant for the publication of this case report.…”