COVID19

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Recommendations from the American College of Rheumatology 

*Please discuss any questions or concerns you have about current or future treatment plans with your rheumatologist

General statements for patients with rheumatic disease: 

  • The risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19 appears to be related primarily to general risk factors such as age and comorbidity.
  • Practice general preventive measures, e.g., social distancing, wearing a mask in public settings and hand hygiene.

 

Patients receiving DMARDs/Biologic medications without SARS-CoV-2 exposure:

  • All medications should be taken as prescribed.
  • If you become ill please call the office for further instruction.

 

Lupus/SLE patients: 

  • In newly diagnosed lupus, Plaquenil/hydroxychloroquine should be started at full dose.
  • In women who are/become pregnant, Plaquenil/hydroxychloroquine should be continued at the same dose. 

 

Treatment following SARS-CoV-2 exposure (without symptoms related to COVID-19): 

  • Please call the office for further instruction.

 

Rheumatic disease treatment in the context of documented or presumptive COVID-19 infection: 

  • Continue Plaquenil/hydroxychloroquine but stop all other immunomodulating medications prescribed by your rheumatologist and call the office for further instruction.