COVID19
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.