Biological agents for rheumatic diseases in the outbreak of COVID-19: friend or foe?
Cristiana Sieiro SantosXenia Cásas FérnandezClara Moriano MoralesElvira Díez ÁlvarezCarolina Álvarez CastroAlejandra López RoblesTrinidad Pérez SandovalPublished in: RMD open (2021)
Overall, the use of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) does not associate with severe manifestations of COVID-19. Patients with rheumatic disease diagnosed with COVID-19 were more likely to be receiving a higher dose of glucocorticoids and treatment with rituximab. IL-6 inhibitors may have a protective effect.