Management of autoimmune systemic diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with systemic autoimmune diseases may have a higher risk. Patients with autoimmune systemic diseases undergoing immunosuppressive drugs and most of the taking high dose of glucocorticosteroids. Therefore immunosuppressive drugs and glucocorticosteroids usage is related to the high risk for any kind of infections. Due to the overlapped symptoms of both COVID-19 and the autoimmune systemic diseases: such as fever, cough, bilateral pneumonia, could lead to misdiagnosis and the virus is at risk of exacerbating chronic diseases and aggravating the process. There are the analyses of recommendations for the management of autoimmune systemic diseases during COVID-19 pandemic of the International League of Rheumatology.