This study used data from an online survey to access common concerns of Spondyloarthritis including ankylosing spondylitis and COVID-19.
Many patients are concerned with anti-inflammatory medication (e.g., anti-TNF, anti-IL-17, NSAIDs, sulfasalazine, etc.) and increased susceptibility to COVID-19 infection. Data collected from over 4300 patients revealed that anti-inflammatory medication did not increase the risk of COVID-19 infection.
Another concern was HLA-B27 status and increased susceptibility or severity of COVID-19 infection. Data collected from over 3400 patients showed neither an increased risk nor protective effect against COVID-19. The same data also revealed B27 status did not affect COVID-19 symptom severity.
This study also revealed that HLA-B27 status was negatively associated with axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA) symptom severity. Plainly, AxSpA patients without HLA-B27 reported more severe disease than HLA-B27 positive patients. This reporting is opposite to the relation with HLA-B27 and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Further, HLA-B27 is associated with lower disease activity in AxSpA and higher disease activity in AS.
Research team included: Dr. James T. Rosenbaum (Principle Investigator), Dr. John D. Reveille, Dr. Michael H. Weisman, Dr. Kevin L. Winthrop, Dr. Kimberly Ogle, Dongseok Choi, Hedley Hamilton of Any-3, Cassie Shafer, Elin Aslanyan, and Richard A. Howard. Plain language summary by Dr. Joseph Stenberg.