Open AccessCovid-19 in a patient with ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis, receiving anti-B cell therapy (rituximab)
Author(s) -
Т. В. Бекетова,
L. M. Blank,
А. М. Лила
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
naučno-praktičeskaâ revmatologiâ
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.137
H-Index - 9
eISSN - 1995-4492
pISSN - 1995-4484
DOI - 10.47360/1995-4484-2020-456-462
Subject(s) - rituximab , medicine , covid-19 , pneumonia , vasculitis , systemic vasculitis , pandemic , anca associated vasculitis , adverse effect , immunology , intensive care medicine , lymphoma , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Despite numerous publications on COVID-19, at present, conceptual thinking of the problem is only at a nascence stage. Treatment of patients with ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis (AAV) during the COVID-19 pandemic is one of the relevant issues. Management of COVID-19 in AAV patients undergoing anti-B cell therapy with rituximab (RTM) requires comprehensive reasoning. This paper presents a case report about COVID-19 in a 59-year-old female with AAV in remission, who was previously treated with RTM. COVID-19 was diagnosed one month after the last RTM administration; there were moderate bilateral pneumonia, fever, and extrapulmonary manifestations, including lesions of the gastrointestinal tract and central nervous system. Clinical outcome of COVID-19 was favorable, with no signs of respiratory failure, and CRP values did not exceed 29 mg/l. We discuss published data on RTM use during COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of B cells and their depletion on the course and outcomes of COVID-19. Our case report and available published data do not allow to consider RTM therapy as a factor associated with severe course of COVID-19 and adverse outcome. Further analysis of COVID-19 in patients with AAV and other rheumatic diseases is important.