Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39456932›Full record

SynthesisInternational journal of molecular sciences2024

Rheumatoid Arthritis and COVID-19 at the Intersection of Immunology and Infectious Diseases: A Related PRISMA Systematic Literature Review.

Andreea-Iulia Vlădulescu-Trandafir, Violeta-Claudia Bojincă, Constantin Munteanu, Aurelian Anghelescu, Cristina Popescu, Simona-Isabelle Stoica, Sorina Aurelian, Andra Bălănescu, Cristina Băetu, Vlad Ciobanu and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International journal of molecular sciences, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Observational
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Andreea-Iulia Vlădulescu-TrandafirFaculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", 020022 Bucharest, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-1369-3873
Violeta-Claudia BojincăFaculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", 020022 Bucharest, Romania.
Constantin MunteanuNeuromuscular Rehabilitation Clinic Division, Teaching Emergency Hospital "Bagdasar-Arseni", 041915 Bucharest, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-1084-7710
Aurelian AnghelescuNeuromuscular Rehabilitation Clinic Division, Teaching Emergency Hospital "Bagdasar-Arseni", 041915 Bucharest, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-8055-0541
Cristina PopescuFaculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", 020022 Bucharest, Romania.
Simona-Isabelle StoicaNeuromuscular Rehabilitation Clinic Division, Teaching Emergency Hospital "Bagdasar-Arseni", 041915 Bucharest, Romania.
Sorina AurelianFaculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", 020022 Bucharest, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-3215-8892
Andra BălănescuFaculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", 020022 Bucharest, Romania.
Cristina BăetuFaculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", 020022 Bucharest, Romania.
Vlad CiobanuComputer Science Department, Politehnica University of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania.
Gelu OnoseFaculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila", 020022 Bucharest, Romania.ORCID 0000-0002-6346-8941

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients face different health challenges when infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) than the general population, due to both their immunocompromised state and the immunosuppressive therapies they receive. This systematic literature review, which follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) paradigm, explores the interactions between RA and SARS-CoV-2 infection, focusing on immunologic issues, disease management, vaccination, and adverse outcomes. In order to obtain the most relevant information, we systematically reviewed the specific literature from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2023, based on the PRISMA method, by which we eventually selected 35 eligible articles, to which we added other ISI-indexed studies to enrich our results further. Consequently, we performed a funnel analysis to evaluate the potential for publication bias. Firstly, the data collected revealed the impact of the pandemic on RA diagnoses and the fear of face-to-face medical consultations that delayed adequate treatment. Secondly, cardiovascular and metabolic comorbidities increase the risk of prolonged COVID-19 symptoms, hospitalization, and severe COVID-19 outcomes for RA patients. With respect to immunosuppressive treatment used to control RA, it was observed that glucocorticoids (especially high-dose usage) and Rituximab (RTX) predispose the patients to poor SARS-CoV-2 outcomes, as opposed to Baricitinib and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors. COVID-19 vaccination has proven effective and generally safe for RA patients in some studies, although therapies with Methotrexate (MTX), Abatacept (ABA), and RTX have been associated with impaired vaccine immune response. This systematic literature review brings updated and thorough information with respect to the immunological, clinical, and management of a complex immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID) like RA in the setting of COVID-19 and underlines the challenges faced by this group of patients. The lessons learned can be extended beyond the pandemic in shaping a more informed and compassionate healthcare system and offering long-term medical care for patients with RA.

Indexed as

Arthritis, RheumatoidCOVID-19Immunosuppressive AgentsSARS-CoV-2Antirheumatic AgentsAzetidinesGlucocorticoidsHumansPurinesPyrazolesRituximabSulfonamidesAntirheumatic AgentsAzetidinesbaricitinibGlucocorticoidsImmunosuppressive AgentsPurinesPyrazolesRituximabSulfonamidesCOVID-19COVID-19 vaccinationPRISMA systematic literature reviewrheumatoid arthritisRituximabSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID39456932
PMCPMC11508285

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.