COVID-19 pandemic and biological therapy in rheumatologic disorders: how to deal with?
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has involved more than 159 countries and more than 5 million people worldwide. A 40-year-old man with a history of rheumatoid arthritis treated with prednisolone, Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs), and biologic agents was admitted wit...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PAGEPress Publications
2020-11-01
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| Series: | Reumatismo |
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| Online Access: | https://www.reumatismo.org/index.php/reuma/article/view/1289 |
| _version_ | 1811301572678778880 |
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| author | Z. Ahmadinejad R. Assari N. Ayoobi Yazdi S.-H. Mazloomi P. Javanshayani H. Khalili Afousi V. Ziaee |
| author_facet | Z. Ahmadinejad R. Assari N. Ayoobi Yazdi S.-H. Mazloomi P. Javanshayani H. Khalili Afousi V. Ziaee |
| author_sort | Z. Ahmadinejad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has involved more than 159 countries and more than 5 million people worldwide. A 40-year-old man with a history of rheumatoid arthritis treated with prednisolone, Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs), and biologic agents was admitted with chief complaints of fever, chills, malaise, myalgia, and dyspnea. Chest computed tomography showed bilateral subsegmental atelectasis and diffuse ground-glass opacities in both lungs inducing the suspicion of COVID-19 infection. The oro-nasopharynx swab sample for COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction was positive. In addition to supportive care, lopinavir/ritonavir 400/100 mg twice daily and oseltamivir (75 mg) twice daily were started in combination with a starting dose of hydroxychloroquine (400 mg). The methotrexate dose was decreased, and the dose of prednisolone was increased to 30 mg for 10 days. Azathioprine and adalimumab were continued at previous doses. The use of biologic agents and DMARDs in rheumatic patients is a serious challenge in the COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the key roles of cytokines in the promotion of the disease, the rheumatic patients may benefit from continuing their previous treatment, which may have protective effects. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T07:11:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-54120e5364654122863e8acac7f43b45 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0048-7449 2240-2683 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T07:11:07Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Reumatismo |
| spelling | doaj.art-54120e5364654122863e8acac7f43b452022-12-22T02:56:52ZengPAGEPress PublicationsReumatismo0048-74492240-26832020-11-0172310.4081/reumatismo.2020.1289COVID-19 pandemic and biological therapy in rheumatologic disorders: how to deal with?Z. Ahmadinejad0R. Assari1N. Ayoobi Yazdi2S.-H. Mazloomi3P. Javanshayani4H. Khalili Afousi5V. Ziaee6Department of Infectious Disease, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran; Imam Khomeini Complex Hospital, TehranRheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, TehranImam Khomeini Complex Hospital, Tehran, Iran; Department of Radiology, Tehran University of Medical Science, TehranImam Khomeini Complex Hospital, TehranImam Khomeini Complex Hospital, TehranDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Science, TehranRheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran; Department of Pediatrics, Tehran University of Medical Science, TehranThe outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has involved more than 159 countries and more than 5 million people worldwide. A 40-year-old man with a history of rheumatoid arthritis treated with prednisolone, Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDs), and biologic agents was admitted with chief complaints of fever, chills, malaise, myalgia, and dyspnea. Chest computed tomography showed bilateral subsegmental atelectasis and diffuse ground-glass opacities in both lungs inducing the suspicion of COVID-19 infection. The oro-nasopharynx swab sample for COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction was positive. In addition to supportive care, lopinavir/ritonavir 400/100 mg twice daily and oseltamivir (75 mg) twice daily were started in combination with a starting dose of hydroxychloroquine (400 mg). The methotrexate dose was decreased, and the dose of prednisolone was increased to 30 mg for 10 days. Azathioprine and adalimumab were continued at previous doses. The use of biologic agents and DMARDs in rheumatic patients is a serious challenge in the COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, during the COVID-19 pandemic, due to the key roles of cytokines in the promotion of the disease, the rheumatic patients may benefit from continuing their previous treatment, which may have protective effects.https://www.reumatismo.org/index.php/reuma/article/view/1289COVID-19 pandemicbiological therapyrheumatologic disorders. |
| spellingShingle | Z. Ahmadinejad R. Assari N. Ayoobi Yazdi S.-H. Mazloomi P. Javanshayani H. Khalili Afousi V. Ziaee COVID-19 pandemic and biological therapy in rheumatologic disorders: how to deal with? Reumatismo COVID-19 pandemic biological therapy rheumatologic disorders. |
| title | COVID-19 pandemic and biological therapy in rheumatologic disorders: how to deal with? |
| title_full | COVID-19 pandemic and biological therapy in rheumatologic disorders: how to deal with? |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 pandemic and biological therapy in rheumatologic disorders: how to deal with? |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 pandemic and biological therapy in rheumatologic disorders: how to deal with? |
| title_short | COVID-19 pandemic and biological therapy in rheumatologic disorders: how to deal with? |
| title_sort | covid 19 pandemic and biological therapy in rheumatologic disorders how to deal with |
| topic | COVID-19 pandemic biological therapy rheumatologic disorders. |
| url | https://www.reumatismo.org/index.php/reuma/article/view/1289 |
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