Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which predominantly affects the lungs and, under certain circumstances, leads to an excessive or uncontrolled immune activation and cytokine response in alveolar structures. The pattern of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced in COVID-19 has similarities to those targeted in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Several clinical studies are underway that test the effects of inhibiting IL-6, IL-1β or TNF or targeting cytokine signalling via Janus kinase inhibition in the treatment of COVID-19. Despite these similarities, COVID-19 and other zoonotic coronavirus-mediated diseases do not induce clinical arthritis, suggesting that a local inflammatory niche develops in alveolar structures and drives the disease process. COVID-19 constitutes a challenge for patients with inflammatory arthritis for several reasons, in particular, the safety of immune interventions during the pandemic. Preliminary data, however, do not suggest that patients with inflammatory arthritis are at increased risk of COVID-19.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
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Antirheumatic Agents / therapeutic use
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Arthralgia
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid / drug therapy
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Arthritis, Rheumatoid / immunology*
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Azetidines / therapeutic use
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Betacoronavirus
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COVID-19
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COVID-19 Drug Treatment
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Coronavirus Infections / complications
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Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy
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Coronavirus Infections / immunology*
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Cytokine Release Syndrome / immunology*
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Delivery of Health Care
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Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / therapeutic use
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Interleukin-1beta / immunology
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Interleukin-6 / immunology
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Janus Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Myalgia
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Pandemics
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Pneumonia, Viral / complications
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Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy
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Pneumonia, Viral / immunology*
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Pulmonary Alveoli / immunology*
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Purines
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Pyrazoles
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Rheumatology
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SARS-CoV-2
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Sulfonamides / therapeutic use
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Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / immunology
Substances
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Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
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Antirheumatic Agents
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Azetidines
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Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein
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Interleukin-1beta
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Interleukin-6
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Janus Kinase Inhibitors
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Purines
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Pyrazoles
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Sulfonamides
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Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors
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Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
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canakinumab
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tocilizumab
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baricitinib