medwireNews: The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has released recommendations on reinitiating treatment for rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) following recovery from SARS-CoV-2 infection.
These recommendations form an update to the ACR’s COVID-19 clinical guidance, which says that treatments including immunosuppressants, some conventional DMARDs, biologics (with the exception of those targeting the interleukin-6 pathway), and Janus kinase inhibitors should be temporarily stopped in RMD patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.
The guidance on reinitiation states that for uncomplicated COVID-19 – defined as mild or no pneumonia and treated in the outpatient setting or at home – “consideration may be given” to recommencing RMD therapies within 7–14 days of COVID-19 symptom resolution. For asymptomatic patients with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, the recommendations say that treatments can be restarted 10–17 days after the positive result.
However, for more severe COVID-19, the ACR says that decisions about recommencing RMD therapy “should be made on a case-by-case basis.”
medwireNews is an independent medical news service provided by Springer Healthcare. © 2020 Springer Healthcare part of the Springer Nature Group
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