Limitations
The article points out that we have limited knowledge surrounding the use, reduction or discontinuation of anti-rheumatic drugs with respect to the timing of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
“These findings will help inform vaccination strategies in patients with IRMDs, specifically decisions regarding stopping or reducing anti-rheumatic medications around the time of vaccination,” states the article.
Dr. Curtis says the results are interesting and notes that although flares were uncommon with less than 5% of patients experiencing a flare, holding medication around the time of the COVID-19 vaccine yielded an increased risk of a flare.
“Given the minimal demonstrated benefit of holding most immunomodulatory medications—except, perhaps, for methotrexate—to boost vaccine response, this finding is helpful to guide recommendations to patients around the time of vaccination,” says Dr. Curtis.
Catherine Kolonko is a medical writer based in Oregon.
References
- Farisogullari B, Lawson-Tovey S, Hinrich KL et al. Factors associated with disease flare following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in people with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: Results from the physician-reported EULAR Coronavirus Vaccine (COVAX) Registry. Ann Rheum Dis. 2024 Oct 21;83(11):1584–1595
- ACR. The ACR’s COVID-19 vaccine clinical guidance summary v5. The Rheumatologist. 2022. Online only.
