Infection News

DESTIN, Fla. — The long COVID epidemic continues to raise more questions than answers for rheumatologists, and while there are no definite solutions, data regarding prevention is painting a clear picture, according to a speaker here.

Nearly 10% of patients with autoimmune rheumatic disease experience flares following COVID-19 vaccination, according to data published in Rheumatology.

Approximately 40% of patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease report adverse physical and mental impacts stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data published in Clinical Rheumatology.

May 11 will mark the end of the 3-year COVID-19 national public health emergency, as announced earlier this year by President Joe Biden and HHS.

The FDA has granted an emergency use authorization for the monoclonal antibody vilobelimab in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 who have undergone ventilation or are on life support, according to a press release from the agency.

Was your psoriasis caused by the Black Death? Learn more than you might have wanted to know about the Black Death and delve into the data on the immunologic/autoimmune ramifications of wiping out nearly half of Europe.

Patients with autoimmune rheumatic disease who receive a fourth dose of the Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine appear to be better protected than patients who receive three doses, according to data published in Rheumatology.

Patients with autoimmune rheumatic disease who receive outpatient therapy are 88% less likely to develop severe COVID-19 outcomes vs. with those who do not undergo outpatient therapy, according to data published in The Lancet Rheumatology.

Glucocorticoids alone demonstrate similar recovery rates as intravenous immunoglobin, or combination therapy with both, in patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, according to data published in The Lancet Rheumatology.

Weekly tocilizumab 162 mg is recommended for giant cell arteritis in new or relapsing cases, alongside glucocorticoids that should eventually be tapered, according to an updated EULAR consensus statement on interleukin-6 inhibitors.