COVID-19 and rheumatic diseases: A mini-review.

Front Med (Lausanne)

SSD Laboratorio RAMSES, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.

Published: September 2022

AI Article Synopsis

  • Joint pain and arthralgia can be symptoms of COVID-19 and may persist in long COVID cases, with some reports linking the virus to new cases of inflammatory arthritis.
  • There is a documented connection between viral infections and rheumatic diseases, which can affect the immune system and potentially lead to higher mortality in patients.
  • The review aims to clarify the relationship between COVID-19 and rheumatic diseases by discussing risks for rheumatic patients, similarities to arthritis, potential consequences of the virus, and the role of vaccines in prevention.

Article Abstract

Joint pain and arthralgia can be manifestations of COVID-19, and studies evaluating long COVID symptoms identified the persistence of these disorders. Moreover, some case reports highlighted the development of new inflammatory arthritis in patients with COVID-19, suggesting a possible relation. Viral infections and rheumatic diseases share a documented relationship; they have been associated with genetic and environmental risk factors responsible for some of them. There is crosstalk between viruses and the immune system during the development of several rheumatic diseases. Moreover, infections may participate in the pathogenesis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases and contribute to patient mortality. Therefore, it is crucial to provide a clearer insight into the interaction between viral infections and rheumatic diseases. Here, we provide a mini-review of the current literature with the aim of shedding light on the relationship between COVID-19 and rheumatic or musculoskeletal diseases, which is still unclear. Specifically, we examined several aspects: risk for the rheumatic population of acquiring the virus or developing severe symptoms, similarities of COVID-19 and arthritis, the possible rheumatic consequence of COVID-19, of rheumatic drugs and vaccines, and COVID-19 prevention in rheumatic patients through vaccination.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9548696PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.997876DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

rheumatic diseases
20
covid-19 rheumatic
12
rheumatic
9
viral infections
8
infections rheumatic
8
covid-19
7
diseases
6
diseases mini-review
4
mini-review joint
4
joint pain
4

Similar Publications

The increasing prevalence of autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases (AIMDs) underscores the need to understand environmental factors that contribute to their pathogenesis, with the microbiome emerging as a key player. Despite significant advancements in understanding how the microbiome influences physiological and inflammatory responses, translating these findings into clinical practice remains challenging. This viewpoint reviews the progress and obstacles in microbiome research related to AIMDs, examining molecular techniques that enhance our understanding of microbial contributions to disease.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has a considerable disease burden with life-long physical limitations, reduced work productivity and high societal costs. Trials on arthralgia at-risk for RA are therefore conducted, aiming to intercept evolving RA and reduce the disease burden. A 1-year course of methotrexate in patients with clinically suspect arthralgia (CSA) caused sustained improvements in subclinical joint inflammation and physical impairments.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: To compare two strategies-a hydrocortisone replacement strategy and a prednisone tapering strategy-for their success in glucocorticoid discontinuation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with low disease activity (LDA).

Methods: The Strategies for glucocorticoid TApering in Rheumatoid arthritis (STAR) study was a double- blind, double-placebo randomised controlled trial including patients with RA receiving a stable dose of glucocorticoid 5 mg/day for ≥3 months and were in LDA for ≥3 months. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either replace prednisone with 20 mg/day of hydrocortisone for 3 months, then reduce to 10 mg/day for 3 months before discontinuation or to taper prednisone by 1 mg/day every month until complete discontinuation, contingent on maintaining LDA.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: The usefulness of methotrexate-polyglutamates (MTX-PGs) concentration for management of rheumatoid arthritis has been debated. We aimed to clarify the association of MTX-PGs concentration with efficacy and safety in MTX-naïve patients initiating MTX in a prospective interventional clinical trial.

Methods: The MIRACLE trial enrolled 300 MTX-naïve patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: To update the 2017 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations for treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc), incorporating new evidence and therapies.

Methods: An international task force was convened in line with EULAR standard operating procedures. A nominal group technique exercise was performed in two rounds to define questions underpinning a subsequent systematic literature review.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!