Does post-COVID reactive arthritis exist? Experience of a tertiary care centre with a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatological manifestations following COVID-19 are various, including Reactive Arthritis (ReA), which is a form of asymmetric oligoarthritis mainly involving the lower limbs, with or without extra-articular features. The current case series describes the clinical profile and treatment outcome of 23 patients with post-COVID-19 ReA. METHODS: A retrospective, observational study of patients with post-COVID-19 arthritis over one year was conducted at a tertiary care centre in India. Patients (n=23) with either a positive polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV2 or an anti-COVID-19 antibody test were included. Available demographic details, musculoskeletal symptoms, inflammatory markers, and treatment given were documented. RESULTS: Sixteen out of 23 patients were female. The mean age of the patients was 42.8 years. Nineteen patients had had symptomatic COVID-19 infection in the past. The duration between onset of COVID-19 symptoms and arthritis ranged from 5 to 52 days with a mean of 25.9 days. The knee was the most involved joint (16 out of 23 cases). Seven patients had inflammatory lower back pain and nine had enthesitis. Most patients were treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids - either depot injection or a short oral course. Three patients required treatment with hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate which were eventually stopped. No relapse was reported in any of the patients. CONCLUSION: On combining our data with 21 other case reports of ReA, a lower limb predominant, oligoarticular, asymmetric pattern of arthritis was seen with a female preponderance. The mean number of joints involved was 2.8. Axial symptoms and enthesitis were often coexistent. Treatment with NSAIDs and intra-articular steroids was effective. However, whether COVID-19 was the definitive aetiology of the arthritis is yet to be proven.

Refractory Takayasu arteritis with recurrent pyoderma gangrenosum: a therapeutic challenge with case-based review.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is an uncommon chronic granulomatous large-vessel vasculitis affecting the aorta and its branches. Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a chronic neutrophilic dermatosis characterized by rapidly developing painful ulcers. The association of PG with TA is relatively uncommon. We report a case of a 22-year-old lady with a history of recurrent pyoderma lesions for 4 months following which she developed right upper limb claudication. She underwent contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography of the aorta and its branches and was initially diagnosed with type IIb TA. She was put on prednisolone and methotrexate but had a major relapse with new-onset lower limb claudication despite an appropriate course of immunosuppression. She was planned for tocilizumab infusion 8 mg/kg intravenous every 4 weeks. Following the first dose of tocilizumab, her vascular symptoms improved but she had a flare of PG. This was followed by another flare after the second dose. She was switched to tofacitinib which led to sustained remission of her TA activity and healing of her skin lesions, and the prednisolone dose could be reduced to 5 mg daily over the next 1 year. Various immunosuppressives were used to date for treating PG in TA. However, tofacitinib is being reported for the first time in literature for treating PG and controlling TA activity. The paradoxical flare of PG with tocilizumab is quite uncommon and is also reported in our case with literature review.

Does post-COVID reactive arthritis exist? Experience of a tertiary care centre with a review of the literature.

Background: Rheumatological manifestations following COVID-19 are various, including Reactive Arthritis (ReA), which is a form of asymmetric oligoarthritis mainly involving the lower limbs, with or without extra-articular features. The current case series describes the clinical profile and treatment outcome of 23 patients with post-COVID-19 ReA. Methods: A retrospective, observational study of patients with post-COVID-19 arthritis over one year was conducted at a tertiary care centre in India. Patients (n = 23) with either a positive polymerase chain reaction test for SARS-CoV2 or an anti-COVID-19 antibody test were included. Available demographic details, musculoskeletal symptoms, inflammatory markers, and treatment given were documented. Results: Sixteen out of 23 patients were female. The mean age of the patients was 42.8 years. Nineteen patients had had symptomatic COVID-19 infection in the past. The duration between onset of COVID-19 symptoms and arthritis ranged from 5 to 52 days with a mean of 25.9 days. The knee was the most involved joint (16 out of 23 cases). Seven patients had inflammatory lower back pain and nine had enthesitis. Most patients were treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids - either depot injection or a short oral course. Three patients required treatment with hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate which were eventually stopped. No relapse was reported in any of the patients. Conclusion: On combining our data with 21 other case reports of ReA, a lower limb predominant, oligoarticular, asymmetric pattern of arthritis was seen with a female preponderance. The mean number of joints involved was 2.8. Axial symptoms and enthesitis were often coexistent. Treatment with NSAIDs and intra-articular steroids was effective. However, whether COVID-19 was the definitive aetiology of the arthritis is yet to be proven.

Antecedentes: Las manifestaciones reumatológicas posteriores al COVID-19 son diversas, entre ellas, la artritis reactiva, que es una forma de oligoartritis asimétrica que afecta principalmente a los miembros inferiores, con o sin características extraarticulares. La serie de casos actual describe el perfil clínico y el resultado del tratamiento de 23 pacientes con artritis reactiva posterior a COVID-19. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional retrospectivo de pacientes con artritis post-COVID-19 durante un año en un centro de atención terciaria en India. Se incluyeron pacientes (n = 23) con una prueba de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa positiva para SARS-CoV-2 o una prueba de anticuerpos anti-COVID-19. Se documentaron los detalles demográficos disponibles, los síntomas musculoesqueléticos, los marcadores inflamatorios y el tratamiento administrado. Resultados: Dieciséis de los 23 pacientes eran mujeres. La edad media de los pacientes fue de 42,8 años. Diecinueve pacientes habían tenido infección sintomática por COVID-19 en el pasado. La duración entre el inicio de los síntomas de COVID-19 y la artritis osciló entre 5 y 52 días, con una media de 25,9 días. La rodilla fue la articulación más comúnmente involucrada (16 de 23 casos). Siete pacientes tenían dolor lumbar inflamatorio y 9 tenían entesitis. La mayoría de los pacientes fueron tratados con medicamentos antiinflamatorios no esteroideos y esteroides, ya fuera una inyección de depósito o un ciclo oral corto. Tres pacientes requirieron tratamiento con hidroxicloroquina y metotrexato, que finalmente se suspendieron. No se reportaron recaídas en ninguno de los pacientes. Conclusión: Al combinar nuestros datos con otros 21 informes de casos de artritis reactiva, se observó un patrón de artritis oligoarticular asimétrico predominante en las extremidades inferiores con predominio femenino. El número medio de articulaciones afectadas fue de 2,8. A menudo coexistían síntomas axiales y entesitis. El tratamiento con antiinflamatorios no esteroideos y esteroides intraarticulares fue eficaz. Sin embargo, aún no se ha demostrado si el COVID-19 fue la etiología definitiva de la artritis.

Clinical profile of patients and sensitivity of troponin I in patients with and without acute coronary syndrome: An observational study.

Background Various clinical conditions can cause troponin elevation in the absence of myocardial ischaemia. Elevated troponin represents the likely occurrence of myocardial necrosis and does not itself provide any indication of the aetiology. Identifying the cause for troponin elevation and its sensitivity and specificity in predicting acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and cardiac mortality is an important step in determining the optimal management for these patients. Methods We retrospectively collected data of inpatients who had troponin I (TnI) testing as part of their clinical assessment, either in the emergency department, medical wards, coronary care unit (CCU) or intensive care unit (ICU) with their final diagnosis. TnI was used as the index test of sensitivity to diagnose ACS and either echocardiography or coronary angiogram in those available as the reference gold standard. They were classified into two groups of normal and elevated TnI, and further divided into those with ACS and no ACS. Data on clinical parameters and aetiology of elevated TnI in patients without ACS were analysed. Results Of the 254 patients studied, 114 patients (45%) had normal TnI and 140 (55%) had elevated TnI. Seventy-eight patients had ACS, 66 (84.6%) of whom had elevated TnI and 12 (15.38%) had normal TnI. Seventy-four (52.85%) of 140 patients with elevated TnI had alternate causes of TnI elevation; the most common being sepsis, acute kidney injury (AKI) and heart failure without ACS. All-cause mortality was significantly higher in patients with elevated TnI with or without ACS. There was no cardiac mortality among patients with ACS with normal TnI. Sensitivity and specificity of TnI for predicting ACS was 84.6% (95% CI 74.7%-91.8%) and 58% (95% CI 50.3%-65.3%), respectively. Conclusion A variety of conditions apart from myocardial infarction can lead to elevated TnI. Hence, caution should be exercised while diagnosing a patient with ACS based on TnI value in the absence of other supporting evidence given its low specificity. Elevated TnI portends a worse prognosis regardless of the aetiology and has a role in predicting all-cause and cardiac mortality.

Recurrent macrophage activation syndrome as the initial manifestation of paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction: Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS) is a rare but potentially fatal complication in rheumatic diseases. Here, we report the case of a 14-year-old girl with MAS as the primary manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). She had three episodes of MAS during the course of her treatment. This case is unique as recurrent MAS in pediatric SLE is rare.Methods: Demographic, clinical, laboratory features and outcomes of our patient was noted. We also reviewed the two reported cases of recurrent MAS in pediatric SLE. Literature review was performed on PubMed search forum. Search items included Macrophage activation syndrome, pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus, recurrent MAS.Conclusion: The diagnosis and management of MAS are challenging as it can simulate an infectious complication or can be the exacerbation of the underlying disease. Early detection and prompt treatment can reduce morbidity in these patients.

Two flares of Still's disease after two doses of the ChAdOx1 vaccine.

We report the case of an 18-year-old male with Still's disease for the last 3 years, in remission, who developed two flares of his disease after receiving two doses of the ChAdOX1 nCoV-19 vaccine. While the first flare was mild requiring steroid initiation and resolved rapidly, the second flare after the second dose was much severe, requiring pulse steroid and tocilizumab. We also review three reported cases of flares of Still's disease after COVID-19 vaccination. The temporal association of the flares with both vaccine doses strengthens the association between the vaccine administration and the flare. The proposed mechanism may be due to activation of the innate immune system by the vaccine adjuvants. This review serves to inform the medical community regarding a possible role of the vaccine in producing a systemic inflammatory response. Early detection and treatment can help reduce morbidity in these cases.

Managing rheumatoid arthritis during COVID-19.

The outbreak of coronavirus in the world has led to an uncertainty about treatment of patients with autoimmune disorders because of their weakened immune system coupled with immunosuppressive agents they take which predisposes them to a host of infections. Data on COVID-19 patients with underlying rheumatological diseases has been emerging mostly in the form of small case series and one global registry. From these data, it seems like our patients, although immunosuppressed, are not particularly susceptible to the coronavirus infection and if infected, do not have significantly worse outcomes than other patients. In fact, drugs like hydroxychloroquine, dexamethasone, and tocilizumab have been studied for treatment of COVID-19. However, this is only preliminary data, and since a few parts of the world are still grappling with the pandemic at its peak, we need to be equipped on how to protect and manage our immunosuppressed patients. Published evidence to guide treatment decisions are lacking and doubts regarding continuation and initiation of immunosuppressants remain. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common immune-mediated disorder in COVID-19 patients, and in this review, we discuss how the commonly used drugs in RA alter the patients' susceptibility to this infection. The review also summarizes the recommendations from the major bodies on how to manage this disease in these times. Key Points • Patients on immunosuppressive medications are not found to be at a greatly increased risk of acquiring COVID-19 infection. • Patients doing well on a stable dose of steroid and/or Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) should be allowed to continue the same unless they get infected in which case, temporary stoppage of methotrexate and leflunomide may be considered. • Initiation of high-dose steroids, DMARDs, and biologics, if the clinical situation demands so, can be done. • Maintenance biologic therapy for stable patients should be individualized by the treating physician.

Eltrombopag: Efficacy and Safety in Steroid Refractory Lupus-Associated Immune Thrombocytopenia.

BACKGROUND: Eltrombopag, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist, is effective in chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The data in lupus ITP are sparse. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of eltrombopag in lupus ITP. METHODS: This is a single-center study conducted between 2012 and 2017 of 12 subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus-associated ITP. Patients with inadequate or suboptimal response to steroids and other immunosuppressants treated with eltrombopag were included in the study. Time taken for response to therapy (defined as platelets >1 lakh), dose, duration of treatment, and adverse effects of the drug were noted. RESULTS: A total of 12 subjects were included in the study. The median platelet count at initiation of eltrombopag was 19,000 per µL. The time taken for response to therapy was 8 days. The median platelet count at 1-month follow-up was 241,000 per µL. All patients were concurrently treated with steroids and other immunosuppressants. Sustained benefit after stopping eltrombopag was noted in all patients. No adverse events including thrombotic complication were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Eltrombopag is a new drug in our arsenal for treatment of ITP in lupus. It is a rapidly effective, safe, and orally administered medication. It indirectly contributes to reduction in the dose of steroids and immunosuppressants, thereby minimizing their cumulative adverse effects. It is a promising and safe option for the treatment of lupus-associated thrombocytopenia, but this needs further confirmation from multicenter, multiethnic, randomized controlled trials.