COVID-19 Among Patients With Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases.

Background: The course of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been of special concern in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) due to the immune dysregulation that may be associated with these diseases and the medications used for IRDs, that may affect innate immune responses.

Objective: In this cohort study, we aimed to report the disease characteristics and variables associated with COVID-19 outcome among Turkish patients with IRDs.

Methods: Between April and June, 2020, 167 adult IRD patients with COVID-19 were registered from 31 centers in 14 cities in Turkey.

Willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine among patients with rheumatic diseases, healthcare workers and general population in Turkey: a web-based survey.

Objectives: Vaccination against COVID-19 emerges as an effective strategy for combating the pandemic. While many of our patients with rheumatic diseases (RD) wonder whether it is safe to get the vaccine, vaccine hesitancy is rising among the general population. We assessed the willingness to get vaccination and its probable predictors among patients with RD compared to healthcare workers and a sample from the general population.

Secukinumab induced Behçet's syndrome: a report of two cases.

Secukinumab is a human monoclonal antibody against IL-17A that has been shown to be effective in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). On the other hand, in randomized controlled trials among patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and uveitis due to Behçet's syndrome (BS) treated with secukinumab, primary end points were not met and the drug caused more exacerbations compared to placebo. The drug fact sheet states that secukinumab should be used with caution in patients with CD; however, there are no warnings for those with BS.

Five-year results of oral antiviral therapy in HBeAg-negative chronic Hepatitis B.

Background/aims: Several guidelines recommend the use of tenofovir or entecavir as the first-line treatment for hepatitis B due to the lower resistance rates of these drugs than lamivudine, although lamivudine may still be preferred because of its low adverse effect profile and cost. It is important to know which patients might benefit from lamivudine as the first-line treatment. We aimed to assess the success rates of lamivudine, entecavir, and tenofovir, as well as the resistance rates, frequencies of HBsAg clearance, and risk factors for lamivudine resistance.