The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 NewsACR Convergence
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / EULAR & ACR COVID-19 Recommendations: How to Manage Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

EULAR & ACR COVID-19 Recommendations: How to Manage Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

June 23, 2020 • By Thomas R. Collins

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF
3D generator; JPC-PROD / shutterstock.com

3D generator; JPC-PROD / shutterstock.com

Editor’s note: EULAR 2020, the annual European congress of rheumatology, which was originally scheduled to be held in Frankfurt, Germany, starting June 3, was canceled and moved to a virtual format due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

You Might Also Like
  • The COVID-19 Pandemic & the ACR’s Response
  • Join the ACR COVID-19 Clinical Guidance Town Hall: May 6
  • Biologic Treatment Recommendations for Rheumatic Disease Patients Who Contract COVID-19
Explore This Issue
August 2020
Also By This Author
  • EULAR 2015: RA Research Shows Imperfect Guidelines, Suggests Strategies with Biologics

EULAR 2020 e-CONGRESS—As rheumatologists grapple with how to manage patients in the COVID-19 era, the ACR and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommend joint decision making between patients and rheumatologists, limiting in-person visits for many patients and continuing treatment with glucocorticoid use, but at the lowest dose possible.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

These and other suggestions—assembled in separate efforts by the two organizations, but which have much overlap—are subject to change as more data become available about the virus and rheumatic disease, experts said in a session of the European e-congress of rheumatology. Both organizations have pledged to revisit the recommendations frequently.

Dr. Landewé

According to EULAR
Robert Landewé, MD, PhD, professor of rheumatology, Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Amsterdam, who leads a task force developing the recommendations for EULAR, said that so far there is no evidence that people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases are at greater risk for contracting the virus, or that they’ll fare worse if they do.1 But he indicated there’s legitimate reason to monitor the situation carefully.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

“The rheumatological community rapidly got very concerned,” Dr. Landewé said. “We treat patients with autoimmune disease and those patients using immunosuppressive drugs. And immune suppression and infection do not go along very well.”

Dr. Landewé said some physicians treating COVID-19 have reportedly stopped the use of immunosuppressive drugs on their own.

“We should try to avoid that situation,” he said, adding that the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 should be the primary responsibility of a pulmonologist, infectious disease expert or internist. Because of their expertise in immunosuppressive treatment, however, the task force recommends rheumatologists make themselves available for COVID guideline committees.

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases who are stable can have their in-person visits and blood monitoring postponed temporarily, potentially using remote visits instead, Dr. Landewé said. But in cases of active disease or signs of drug toxicity, the patient and physician should consider a visit, weighing the risks and benefits together.

The EULAR task force says it’s more important than ever to aim for the lowest possible dose of glucocorticoids, although they should be continued. The group couldn’t come to a consensus on action to be taken for patients with mild COVID-19 symptoms, so it suggests handling such cases on an individual basis. But when COVID-19 is worsening, patients should seek immediate expert advice and follow their local treatment recommendations.

Pages: 1 2 3 | Single Page

Filed Under: Conditions Tagged With: American College of Rheumatology (ACR), coronavirus, COVID-19, EULAR, guideline, patient care, recommendationsIssue: August 2020

You Might Also Like:
  • The COVID-19 Pandemic & the ACR’s Response
  • Join the ACR COVID-19 Clinical Guidance Town Hall: May 6
  • Biologic Treatment Recommendations for Rheumatic Disease Patients Who Contract COVID-19
  • ACR Releases COVID-19 Clinical Guidance for Pediatric Patients

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

Visit the ACR »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use / Cookie Preferences

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2023 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)