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Review
. 2020 Nov-Dec;16(6):437-446.
doi: 10.1016/j.reuma.2020.06.011. Epub 2020 Jul 28.

Recommendations on the management of adult patients with rheumatic diseases in the context of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 infection. Colombian Association of Rheumatology

[Article in English, Spanish]
Lina María Saldarriaga Rivera  1 , Daniel Fernández Ávila  2 , Wilson Bautista Molano  3 , Daniel Jaramillo Arroyave  4 , Alain Jasaf Bautista Ramírez  5 , Adriana Díaz Maldonado  6 , Jorge Hernán Izquierdo  7 , Edwin Jáuregui  8 , María Constanza Latorre Muñoz  9 , Juan Pablo Restrepo  10 , Juan Sebastián Segura Charry  11
Affiliations
Review

Recommendations on the management of adult patients with rheumatic diseases in the context of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 infection. Colombian Association of Rheumatology

[Article in English, Spanish]
Lina María Saldarriaga Rivera et al. Reumatol Clin (Engl Ed). 2020 Nov-Dec.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Objective: To produce recommendations for patients with rheumatological diseases receiving immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive therapies (conventional drugs, biologicals, and small molecules) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials and methods: The recommendations were determined using the Delphi method as an agreement tool. A panel of experts was formed, with academic backgrounds and research experience in rheumatology. A literature search was conducted and 42 questions were generated. The level of agreement was made with 80% of approval by the participants.

Results: A group of eleven rheumatologists from 7 cities in the country participated. The response rate was 100% for the three consultation rounds. In the first round, agreement was reached on 35 questions, on 37 in the second round, and on 42 questions in the third round.

Conclusion: The recommendation for the majority of the pharmacological treatments used in rheumatology is to continue with immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive therapies in patients who do not have the infection, and to suspend it in patients with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19.

Objetivo: Generar las recomendaciones para la atención de pacientes con enfermedades reumáticas que reciben terapias inmunomoduladoras e inmunosupresoras (fármacos convencionales, biológicos y moléculas pequeñas) durante la pandemia por COVID-19.

Materiales y métodos: Las recomendaciones se realizaron utilizando el método Delphi como herramienta de acuerdo. Se conformó un panel de expertos con trayectoria académica y experiencia en investigación en reumatología. Se realizó la búsqueda de la literatura y se generó el cuestionario del ejercicio Delphi conformado por 42 preguntas. El grado de acuerdo se logró con el 80% de aprobación de los participantes.

Resultados: Se conformó un grupo de 11 reumatólogos de 7 ciudades del país. La tasa de respuesta fue del 100% para las 3 rondas de consulta. En la primera ronda se logró acuerdo en 35 preguntas, en la segunda ronda 37 y en la tercera ronda se logró el acuerdo de las 42 preguntas.

Conclusión: La recomendación para la mayoría de los tratamientos inmunomoduladores utilizados en reumatología es continuar con las terapias en pacientes que no tengan la infección y suspenderlas en aquellos con diagnóstico de SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19.

Keywords: Immunomodulation; Immunosuppression; Inmunomodulación; Inmunosupresión; SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19; Tratamiento; Treatment.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
This chart summarizes the processes conducted during the Delphi exercise to establish the recommendations of the Colombian Association of Rheumatology regarding the management of patients with rheumatic diseases, receiving immunomodulation/immunosuppressive therapies (conventional, biologics and small molecules), in the context of the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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