The German Society for Rheumatology (DGRh) wants to provide help to address special concerns in the care of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases/systemic autoimmune diseases in view of the current threat of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
Following the outbreak in China, the Lombardy region of Italy has become one of the areas of highest incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). As the outbreak grew to a pandemic, many centres worldwide raised the concern that immunocompromised patients may be at high risk of developing a severe respiratory disease called COVID-19. Unlike common viral agents (such as Adenovirus, Rhinovirus, Norovirus, Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus), Coronaviruses have not shown to cause a more severe disease in immunosuppressed patients. For this family of viruses the host innate immune response appears the main driver of lung tissue damage during infection.
Full article:
Coronaviruses and immunosuppressed patients. The facts during the third epidemic (PDF)
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is aware of reports, especially on social media, which raise questions about whether non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen could worsen coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
There is currently no scientific evidence establishing a link between ibuprofen and worsening of COVID-19. EMA is monitoring the situation closely and will review any new information that becomes available on this issue in the context of the pandemic.
In May 2019, EMA’s safety committee (PRAC) started a review of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines ibuprofen and ketoprofen following a survey by the French National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) which suggested that infection due to chickenpox (varicella) and some bacterial infections could be made worse by these medicines. The product information of many NSAIDs already contains warnings that their anti-inflammatory effects may hide the symptoms of a worsening infection. The PRAC is reviewing all available data to see if any additional measure is required.
When starting treatment for fever or pain in COVID-19, patients and healthcare professionals should consider all available treatment options including paracetamol and NSAIDs. Each medicine has its own benefits and risks which are reflected in its product information and which should be considered along with EU national treatment guidelines, most of which recommend paracetamol as a first treatment option for fever or pain.
In line with EU national treatment guidelines, patients and healthcare professionals can continue using NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) as per the approved product information. Current advice includes that these medicines are used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible period. Patients who have any questions should speak to their doctor or pharmacist. There is currently no reason for patients taking ibuprofen to interrupt their treatment, based on the above. This is particularly important for patients taking ibuprofen or other NSAID medicines for chronic diseases. Further to the ongoing PRAC safety review on ibuprofen and ketoprofen, EMA highlights the need for epidemiological studies to be conducted in a timely manner to provide adequate evidence on any effect of NSAIDs on disease prognosis for COVID-19. The Agency is reaching out to its stakeholders and is ready to actively support such studies, which could be useful in guiding any future treatment recommendations.
EMA will provide further information as necessary and once the PRAC review is concluded
Full article:
EMA gives advice on the use of non-steroidal antiinflammatories for COVID-19 (PDF)
During the current COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak there are likely to be questions and special anxieties for people with Rheumatic Musculoskeletal Diseases (RMDs) who are taking immune suppressive medicines like biologic drugs, JAK inhibitors, steroids and conventional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) e g. methotrexate…
More information:
www.eular.org
Aufgrund der aktuellen Infektionslage mit dem neuen Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 werden seitens der Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendrheumatologie folgende Handlungsempfehlungen für Kinder und Jugendliche mit rheumatischen oder autoinflammatorischen Erkrankungen gegeben:
Stand der Empfehlung 06. März 2020
Unser Kinder- und Jugendrheumatologe Dr. med. Ivan Foeldvari nimmt reglemäßig an Fortbildungsveranstaltungen Teil, um eine optimale medizinische Versorgung zu gewährleisten.
Veranstaltungen:
Vortrag von Dr. Ivan Foeldvari am Welt Rheuma Tag 2019 in der Bucerius Law School (Hamburg):
„Was ist ein Rheumaschub und warum kommt er?“
Jedes 500. Kind und Jugendliche hat eine rheumatische Erkrankung.
Manche Patienten fallen wegen geschwollener Gelenke auf, manche sind bewegungsfaul oder haben morgendliche Anlaufschwierigkeiten. Manche haben Probleme in den Kiefergelenken. In 10% der Fälle tritt eine Regenbogenhautentzündung der Augen auf, bei vielen Patienten ohne Beschwerden oder Rötung der Augen.
Im Hamburger Zentrum für Kinder- und Jugendrheumatologie (www.kinderrheumatologie.de) werden inzwischen über 5000 Kinder und Jugendliche betreut. Es ist sehr wichtig , frühzeitig die Erkrankung zu erkennen und eine effektive Therapie einzuleiten, um Schäden zu verhindern. Es besteht ein Versorgungsnetzwerk aus Ärzten und Therapeuten verschiedener Fachrichtungen.
In unserem Zentrum wird die Arbeit von der Hamburger Elterninitiative Rheumakranker Kinder e.V. (www.kinderrheuma.de) unterstützt, die momentan Gelder für eine Sozialarbeiterstelle sammelt. Viele Patienten haben Fragen und Probleme bezüglich der Berufsberatung, möglicher sozialer Unterstützung und zur Krankheitsverarbeitung. (Spenden- Konto des Elternvereins: Hamburger Volksbank eG DE31 2019 0003 0082 0822 00 BIC GENODEF1HH2 00 – Stichwort – Sozialarbeiter)
Dr. Ivan Foeldvari
Ein Film der Deutschen Kinderrheuma-Stiftung, u.a. mit Dr. Ivan Foledvari.
29. – 30. Juni 2019, Chengdu
Ivan Foeldvari war eingeladener Vortragender auf dem 3. chinesischen Sklerodermie Treffen der Patienten, wo er Vorträge über die Diagnose und Behandlung von lokalisierter und systematischer Sklerodermie gehalten hat.
Programm – 3rd China Scleroderma Congress
