Introduction: There is considerable overlap between the clinical manifestations of covid-19 pneumonia and the acute interstitial lung disease seen in certain rheumatic disorders. In addition, pulmonary fibrosis is increasingly recognised as a potentially serious consequence of both.
Methods: This review explores this overlap of clinical features, risk factors and causation, offering insights into the immune mechanisms that contribute to both sets of disorders.
Results: The therapeutic role of immunosuppression and biologic agents in the treatment of covid-19 is explained in the light of this.
Discussion: We propose how lessons learned from the insights recently gained into each disorder can improve our insight into immunological mechanisms and application of therapeutic interventions in the other.
Keywords: Biology therapy; COVID-19 pneumonia; Cytokine storm; Dermatomyositis; Immunosuppressives; Interstitial lung disease; Pulmonary fibrosis; Rheumatoid arthritis; Systemic lupus erythematosus.
© 2021. Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.