Authors:	Grabbe, Stephan Beissert, Stefan Enk, Alexander
Title:	Systemic immunosuppression in times of COVID-19 : do we need to rethink our standards?
Online publication date:	27-Apr-2022
Year of first publication:	2020
Language:	english
Abstract:	The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic particularly endangers older people with pre-existing cardiopulmonary and metabolic conditions. However, it is also currently under discussion whether patients under immunosuppressive therapy also have a higher risk of suffering a severe course of the COVID-19 disease. In principle though, there is currently no data available for a general reduction or pause of immunosuppression in patients with autoimmune diseases because of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, since there is currently neither an effective therapy nor corresponding vaccination protection, the indication for a prolonged immunosuppressive therapy should be made with special care. In particular, immunotherapeutic agents that produce long-term effects (e.g., rituximab) should be used with special caution. In contrast, immunomodulating substances that do not suppress antiviral immunity (e.g. systemic immunoglobulins, doxycycline), or that have intrinsic effects on SARS-CoV-2 (calcineurin inhibitors, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine) may be useful alternatives.
DDC:	610 Medizin 610 Medical sciences
Institution:	Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Department:	FB 04 Medizin
Place:	Mainz
ROR:	https://ror.org/023b0x485
DOI:	http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-6911
Version:	Published version
Publication type:	Zeitschriftenaufsatz
License:	CC BY-NC-ND
Information on rights of use:	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Journal:	Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft 18 8
Pages or article number:	810 813
Issue date:	2020
ISSN:	1610-0387
Publisher DOI:	10.1111/ddg.14194
Appears in collections:	JGU-Publikationen