At the 2024 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology West, Dr. Leonard Calabrese discussed the impact of COVID-19 on rheumatic diseases, stating that there is limited evidence that COVID-19 alters the natural history of these diseases. Patients on B-cell depleting therapies may be at risk for complications, but antivirals are available to manage this. The relationship between long COVID and rheumatic and autoimmune diseases remains unclear. Calabrese also addressed other viral infections in rheumatic disease, such as parvovirus B19 and chikungunya virus, emphasizing the importance of managing these conditions effectively. He also discussed the management and prevention of chronic persistent viral infections like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C in patients with rheumatic diseases.
Source link
‘Very little evidence’ that COVID-19 alters course of rheumatic, autoimmune diseases
