Flares after COVID-19 infection in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: results from the COVAD study

Published Date: 02nd April 2023

Publication Authors: Nune A

Extract
DEAR EDITOR, Viral infections are known triggers of disease flares in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). Reports of post-COVID-19 exacerbation of IIMs suggest a possible role for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in precipitating IIM disease flares [1]. Recently, analysis of patients with pre-pandemic adult-onset dermatomyositis revealed six highly conserved amino acid sequences in anti-transcriptional intermediary factor 1γ autoantibodies specific for immunogenic epitopes were highly similar to SARS-COV-2 proteins [2]. Possibly, COVID-19 may trigger the same type 1 interferon-mediated inflammatory pathway implicated in the pathogenesis of IIMs.

However, despite ominously increasing flare rates in this vulnerable group, the risk factors for post-COVID-19 IIM disease exacerbations remain unknown [1]. The post-COVID-19 state and flares of IIMs are both extremely disabling, and together may be devastating [3, 4]. Knowledge of these predictors is critical for physicians to prioritize high-risk patients for close monitoring and timely multidisciplinary care in anticipation of flares. We analysed these predictors in a global sample of patients with IIMs using data from the ongoing second COVID-19 Vaccination in Autoimmune Diseases (COVAD) study [5].

 

Ali, SS.; Nune, A. et al. (2023). Flares after COVID-19 infection in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: results from the COVAD study. Rheumatology (Oxford). 62(9), pp.e263-e268. [Online]. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kead149 [Accessed 27 February 2024].

 

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