Simplified information ?

[Oshgosh]

I read some information about Covid 19 and lupus,last evening. I sort of understood it,but lupus fog helps nothing.

Have seen a comment in the online Guardian today.

It said that individuals can become more ill with Coronavirus if their immune system goes into overdrive- destroying organs.

So could this mean that that my immunosupressed immune system would possibly not try to destroy my organs if I caught Coronavirus?

Apologies for the silly question,am just trying to look on the bright side.

Have lung disease,lupus RA, Kidneys not too good.am classed as highly vulnerable,

[Paul_Howard Partner LUPUS UK]

Hi Oshgosh ,

At present we don't have enough information to know the likely impact that COVID-19 would have in someone with lupus.

The COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance has been founded to collect information pertinent to COVID-19 infection in patients with rheumatologic disease. In time it is hoped that research such as this will provide insights about the effect this virus has in people with lupus. - rheum-covid.org/

In the meantime, it is best to assume that people with lupus are likely to be more vulnerable to this virus than others, based on knowledge about other respiratory infections.

You can read more about lupus and coronavirus at lupusuk.org.uk/coronavirus/

[PMRpro]

Not a silly question at all! One the experts would like to be able to answer ...

They are talking about what seems to be the third stage of Covid 19. The first stage is a banal infection - the one they kept on about at the start and the reason so many idiots aren't worried about getting it. Matt Hancock et all have had that, lasts a few days, you feel a bit ropey but then it is gone. Then after about 10 days a second stage may develop - breathing becomes more difficult so bad you need to be in hospital and on oxygen. These patients are ill for 2, maybe up to 3 weeks, in total but it doesn't get worse than that although they will take several weeks to recover fully.

However, in some patients this stage may worsen and then something happens so that the inflammation takes over - and the body starts to produce large amounts of inflammatory substances (cytokines) which the doctors struggle to manage. This is the point at which they need to try existing medications to suppress that inflammation which is due to what is often called a cytokine storm. Tocilizumab works when it is the cytokine IL-6 - other drugs will be useful for other cytokines - but they are all very specific to them and if a different cytokine is raised you would need its match.

They are fairly confident that using higher doses of steroids doesn't work well in Covid 19. Not sure about other immunosuppressants - except the current thinking is that if you are immunosuppressed you are more likely to catch it so keeping a low profile is the best approach.

So maybe - maybe not. But it isn't something I have any desire to test ...