TNF-α Blockers Showed Prophylactic Effects in Preventing COVID-19 in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Seronegative Spondyloarthropathies: A Case-Control Study.

COVID-19 Rheumatoid arthritis Seronegative spondyloarthropathies TNF-α blockers

Journal

Rheumatology and therapy
ISSN: 2198-6576
Titre abrégé: Rheumatol Ther
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101674543

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
Sep 2021
Historique:
received: 05 03 2021
accepted: 23 06 2021
pubmed: 24 7 2021
medline: 24 7 2021
entrez: 23 7 2021
Statut: ppublish

Résumé

The interaction between angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and SARS-CoV-2 is a crucial factor in the viral infections leading to the release of inflammatory proteins, such as TNF-α. Thus, it is hypothesized that TNF-α blockers can prevent either COVID-19 incidence or its serious symptoms. TNF-α blockers are prescribed to treat various autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SpA). Therefore, the objective of this work was to examine this hypothesis that TNF-α blockers can prevent COVID-19 incidence in patients with RA or SpA. A case-control study was conducted through interviews based on a structured questionnaire to investigate the frequency of COVID-19 incidence in 254 eligible patients with RA or SpA about whom 45% were under treatment with one type of TNF-α blockers including infliximab, adalimumab, and etanercept at least for 3 months during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews were carried out twice, at the beginning and the end of the study (June-December 2020). Patients with COVID-19 during the study or before that were considered as cases. The control group was patients without COVID-19 experience. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and logistic regression was used to determine the relationships between COVID-19 incidence and independent variables. A small percentage of patients treated with TNF-α blockers (5.22%, 6/115) experienced COVID-19, while a large percentage of patients with COVID-19 did not receive TNF-α blockers (27.34%, 38/139). According to odds ratio, adalimumab, infliximab, and etanercept decreased significantly the risk of developing COVID-19 up to 96.8, 95, and 80.3% (p < 0.05), respectively. Therefore, TNF-α blockers could probably decrease the chances of the COVID-19 incidence in patients with RA or SpA. A direct and positive correlation between the use of TNF-α blockers and a reduction in the incidence of COVID-19 could suggest the prophylactic role of these drugs in preventing COVID-19 in patients with RA and SpA.

Identifiants

pubmed: 34297311
doi: 10.1007/s40744-021-00342-8
pii: 10.1007/s40744-021-00342-8
pmc: PMC8299175
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Pagination

1355-1370

Subventions

Organisme : Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
ID : 199119

Informations de copyright

© 2021. The Author(s).

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Auteurs

Mansour Salesi (M)

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. salesi@med.mui.ac.ir.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. salesi@med.mui.ac.ir.

Behrokh Shojaie (B)

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Ziba Farajzadegan (Z)

Department of Community and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Naghmeh Salesi (N)

Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

Erfan Mohammadi (E)

Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.

Classifications MeSH