COVID-19, rheumatic diseases and immune dysregulation—a perspective

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in widespread hospitalisations and deaths around the world. As patients with rheumatic diseases generally have increased risk of infections and complications, understandably, there is significant concern of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on these patients. However, there is a paucity of data in rheumatic patients. We review mechanisms through which SARS-CoV-2 results in infection, including ACE2 receptor, and complications (including immune dysregulation, thrombosis and complement activation). We assess these pathways in patients with rheumatic disease and those on immune modulating therapy. Although data thus far does not appear to show worse outcomes in rheumatic patients as a whole, given alterations in the underlying immune pathways in certain diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus), we posit that the risk is not equal in all rheumatic patients. We also discuss the benefit of underlying disease control with respect to COVID-19 risk reduction and potential increased risk of disease flares following viral infection from an immune standpoint.