COVID-19: autoimmunity, multisystemic inflammation and autoimmune rheumatic patients
Zoltán Szekanecz, Attila Balog, Tamás Constantin, László Czirják, Pál Géher, László Kovács, Gabór Kumánovics, György Nagy, Éva Rákóczi, Szilvia Szamosi, Gabriella Szűcs, István Vályi‐Nagy
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with autoimmunity and systemic inflammation. Patients with autoimmune rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD) may be at high risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In this review, based on evidence from the literature, as well as international scientific recommendations, we review the relationships between COVID-19, autoimmunity and patients with autoimmune RMDs, as well as the basics of a multisystemic inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19. We discuss the repurposing of pharmaceutics used to treat RMDs, the principles for the treatment of patients with autoimmune RMDs during the pandemic and the main aspects of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in autoimmune RMD patients.