The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with rheumatic diseases on therapy biological disease modifying antirheumatic drugs

Dadalova, A.; Vasilenko, E.; Samigullina, R.; Mazurov, V.

Background: At the moment, a highly relevant issue is the course of SARSCoV-2 infection in patients with rheumatic pathology, especially, those receiving therapy with biological disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. Objectives: of the current study to assess the prevalence and course of SARSCoV-2 infection in patients receiving various biological disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. Methods: to assess the severity of the course of SARS-CoV-2, discharged epicrisis from hospitals or the conclusion of computed tomography were used. The average age of the patients ranged from 41.4 + 11.6 years. In the evaluated sample, 47 patients (49.47%) were males. Among the infected of SARS-CoV-2 were patients with rheumatoid arthritis -45 (47.4%), spondyloarthritis -39 (41.1%), systemic connective tissue diseases -11 (11.5%). Results: Since March 2020, among the 1319 patients with rheumatic diseases observed at the St. Petersburg Center of therapy biological disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, 95 patients (7,2%) had SARS-CoV-2 infection. In 57,9% (55 patients) there was a mild course of infection, in 35,8% of cases (34 patients) -a moderate course, in 6,3% (6 patients) -a severe course. Inpatient treatment was received by 29,5% (28 patients). A favorable outcome was noted in 95.8%, and a lethal outcome in 4,2%. The use of interleukin-6 inhibitors was required in 2,1% of patients (2) due to the development of a cytokine storm. The structure of the received biological therapy in the severity of the course is shown in Table 1. Conclusion: Taking into account the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, further study of the course of infection in patients with rheumatic diseases, including those receiving biological therapy, is required. More information is also needed on the safety and efficacy of vaccination in this patient population.