Infection News

WASHINGTON — Severe acute COVID-19 infection, as well as glucocorticoid and rituximab use, increase the risk for long COVID in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, according to data presented at ACR Convergence 2024.

WASHINGTON — Approximately 20% of patients meeting the 2016 fibromyalgia criteria report post-exertional malaise, which itself may be key to understanding both long COVID and fatigue in patients with rheumatic diseases, according to data.

WASHINGTON — The correlation between autoantibodies and new-onset autoimmune disease in individuals with long COVID symptoms remains “controversial,” according to a speaker at ACR Convergence 2024.

WASHINGTON — Among patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, circulating interleukin-18 levels were lower in those with long COVID vs. those without, according to data presented at ACR Convergence 2024.

WASHINGTON — Patients with inflammatory arthritis who receive rituximab, interleukin-6 inhibition or Janus kinase inhibitors demonstrate higher severe infection risks vs. TNF inhibitors, according to data presented at ACR Convergence 2024.

WASHINGTON — Withholding Janus kinase or interleukin-17 inhibitors from patients with rheumatoid arthritis or spondyloarthritis does not significantly benefit COVID-19 booster response, according to data presented at ACR Convergence 2024.

WASHINGTON — Herpes zoster vaccination is effective in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis, without increasing the risk for severe lupus flares, according to data presented at ACR Convergence 2024.

Higher disease activity and medication reduction at COVID-19 vaccination increase the risk for subsequent flares in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, according to data published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Patients with autoimmune or inflammatory rheumatic diseases living in rural areas demonstrate a 24% higher mortality risk after SARS-CoV-2 infection vs. those in urban areas, according to data published in Arthritis Care & Research.