Good news?

[oldtimer]

I just read this (and looked briefly at the referenced article) and thought it might cheer people up in this atmosphere of crisis and doom!

"It may be that immuno-suppression is actually helpful. Some of the most serious symptoms of Covid-19 result from an immune system on the rampage rather than a lethargic one, Chinese scientists found: An extreme immune response called cytokine storm, a flood of immune cells and the biochemicals they produce, tears through lung tissue."

So we might actually be better off taking our immune-suppressants...

[Lina282]

Hi, yes it sounds like that ☺

Something good in the bad things.

Thank you for sharing this.

[KittyJ]

Thankyou for that oldtimer, very interesting.

[rab1874]

Good to know thanks for sharing xxx

[wishbone]

Now you mention it, think I caught a brief snippet about that somewhere. It could be good news, as we know the main danger with corona is it targets the lungs.

I believe my lungs were damaged by very high inflammation levels during a really bad prolonged flare. I've been told to make sure my RA is under control for fear of exacerbating the problem.

[Kerensa21]

That’s really interesting; I read some recent research on possible links in 1918 flu epidemic to severe immune system response. Be good if something worked for us for a change 😊

[medway-lady in reply to Kerensa21]

And of course people lived in far less sanitary conditions, had weakened health post WW1, had coal fires and houses could have been damp so might have had a a lot of lung problems due to pollution. Oh well I'm going to make some hand stuff tomorrow and just be sensible.

[Kerensa21 in reply to medway-lady]

True, I’m aware of the history. The immune system/cytokine storm response in the original post is what I found most interesting.

The main gist of the science daily article I read was that the influenza strain responsible for the 1918 flu pandemic caused a severe immune-system response too; likely what made it so deadly. Fascinating read if a bit morbid 😉

[medway-lady in reply to Kerensa21]

I like Morbid even after all these years the morbid bits stay in the memory. lol xx Good job I never studied Forensic Pathology. eh ?

[AgedCrone]

Quite agree with you OT.

I’m sure our rheumy doctors are keeping an eye on the technical details of the virus, & will take any action necessary, if they think any of us should alter our meds,

[nomoreheels]

Let's hope so! The concern for me is taking the wrong precautions, or misinterpretation of what's advised particularly people thinking of stopping their meds, that they won't help or protect you, or as it would seem now staying on them they may. Also the wearing of masks, the ones generally available... that's not only unhygienic & useless after 20 mins of wearing it's only recommended if you have the virus to help stop the spread of it, they won't protect you from the possibility of getting it.

There was a notice in my chemists today saying they had sold out of masks & hand sanitizers. The Pharmacist told me she'd tried saying buying the masks was pointless but still they wanted them. At the mo just do as recommended by the Government & wash hands thoroughly, or use hand gel if hot water isn't available & don't touch your face, harder to do than you realise! Above all don't stop meds unless told to do so by your Rheumy or Nurse.

[Hidden]

Wooohoo!! Something positive last 😁

[wishbone]

Think I'll phone rheumy and tell them I've had a change of mind and decided to accept the offer they made to increase my baricitinib a few months go.

[medway-lady]

Thank you so now there will be a shortage of RA meds too? lol Today it was like locusts had hit the supermarket. I went in for a bottle of milk and bread and Sainsbury's was rammed. Worse than the pre Christmas panic as if the shops shut for a day the world will end. But I do have a Brexit shelf in the garage ! so might be guilty of having a few spare cans of stuff. Not loo roll though as a friend works for Kimberly Clark !

[wishbone]

Those crazy people can clear the shelves of toilet rolls all I care... I've got a tea chest full of old news papers in the shed! .........................................

[nomoreheels in reply to wishbone]

Worked for my Nan, will work for....... oh, hold on, maybe that's a step back too far!!! 🥺😖😃

[wishbone in reply to nomoreheels]

[Hessie5]

Thanks for sharing something positive for us all - good news. I hope scientists find a swift resolve.

[helixhelix]

Interestingly a statement from the French equivalent of NRAS (which is nowhere near as good!) said

“Severe complications are mainly observed in frail people: the elderly, people with chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, chronic bronchitis, smoking, etc.

Inflammatory arthritis and autoimmune diseases are not yet among the diseases with a proven risk profile”

Which could just mean that nobody with RA has got it yet of course, but Ikm choosing to be reassured. And then they said

“Some treatments used in inflammatory arthritis (hydroxychloroquine, JAK inhibitors, corticosteroids) have even been used or proposed for their potential anti-viral effect and to treat excess inflammation in severe forms of pneumonia complicating COVID-19 infection.”