Open AccessImmunotherapy for ANCA-associated vasculitis during the COVID-19 pandemic
Author(s) -
Eric J. Gapud,
Andreas Kronbichler,
Philipp Gauckler,
Duvuru Geetha
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european journal of rheumatology :/european journal of rheumatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2147-9720
pISSN - 2148-4279
DOI - 10.5152/eurjrheum.2020.2067
Subject(s) - medicine , pandemic , vasculitis , disease , intensive care medicine , covid-19 , immunology , diabetes mellitus , infectious disease (medical specialty) , endocrinology
Since the first description of infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in China in December 2019, it has evolved into a pandemic and emerged as an unprecedented worldwide crisis overwhelming healthcare systems globally. Analysis of the available literature to date suggests that, in addition to older age, patients with underlying co-morbidities including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease are at higher risk for severe disease with increased mortality. Practitioners around the world also have become increasingly concerned that immunosuppressed patients including those with autoimmune diseases may be at increased risk for developing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) with serious complications. Very little is known about how anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis modifies the susceptibility, clinical presentation and disease course of COVID-19. In this review, we discuss the mechanism of action and challenges of the current therapeutic armamentarium of ANCA-associated vasculitis and outline approaches to management of ANCA-associated vasculitis during the COVID-19 pandemic.