Open AccessCOVID-19 infection during autoimmune disease: study of 2 cases in Republic of Guinea
Author(s) -
Kaba Condé,
Hugues Ghislain Atakla,
Mahaman Salissou Garba,
I Garba
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the pan african medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.287
H-Index - 30
ISSN - 1937-8688
DOI - 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.35.2.24616
Subject(s) - medicine , rheumatoid arthritis , disease , retrospective cohort study , arthritis , covid-19 , medical record , immunology , intensive care medicine , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Coronavirus is a virus that can target the respiratory, musculoskeletal systems with a cascade of inflammatory processes. The objective of this work is to establish the link between autoimmune diseases and a COVID-19 infection in Guinea. Methods Retrospective patient data were obtained from medical records. Informed consent was obtained under the direction of the national health security agency (ANSS). Results We report the case of two patients aged 52 and 64 years respectively, known to have rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic scleroderma (SDS) admitted with clinical signs suggesting underlying infection with COVID-19. They were tested with RT-PCR, which was positive within hours. Conclusion In view of the rapid clinical worsening of patients with COVID-19 infection and autoimmune diseases, increased surveillance should be undertaken with abstinence of any factors that might weaken the immunity of these patients.