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Author Spotlight: Isolation and Culture of Primary Synovial Macrophages and Fibroblasts from Murine Arthritis Tissue
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Inflammatory Arthritis Post Covid-19 Infection.
M Deeb1,2, P B Moloney1,2, G McCarthy3
1Department of Neurology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin 7, Ireland.
Irish Medical Journal
|March 13, 2022
Summary
A COVID-19 infection may trigger late-onset rheumatoid arthritis in older adults. Early treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and methotrexate improved symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease.
- Late-onset RA (LORA) typically presents after age 60.
- The role of viral infections in RA pathogenesis is under investigation.
Observation:
- A 63-year-old man presented with polyarthritis two months after recovering from COVID-19.
- Clinical presentation included joint pain and swelling.
- Symptoms emerged following a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Findings:
- Diagnosis of RA was confirmed by elevated inflammatory markers, positive rheumatoid factor (RF), and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies.
- The patient's symptoms showed significant improvement with a treatment regimen including naproxen, corticosteroids, and methotrexate.
- This case suggests a potential link between COVID-19 and the development of RA.
Implications:
- COVID-19 may act as a trigger or unmasking agent for late-onset rheumatoid arthritis.
- Further research is warranted to explore the potential pathogenetic mechanisms linking SARS-CoV-2 infection to RA.
- This case highlights the importance of considering autoimmune conditions post-viral infections.
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