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Correspondence
Systematic analysis of COVID-19 infection and symptoms in a systemic lupus erythematosus population: correlation with disease characteristics, hydroxychloroquine use and immunosuppressive treatments
  1. Zoé Gendebien1,
  2. Christian von Frenckell1,
  3. Clio Ribbens1,
  4. Béatrice André1,
  5. Marie Thys2,
  6. Marjorie Gangolf2,
  7. Laurence Seidel2,
  8. Michel G Malaise1,
  9. Olivier Malaise1
  1. 1 Rheumatology Department, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
  2. 2 Medico-economic Information Department, University Hospital of Liège, Liège, Belgium
  1. Correspondence to Dr Olivier Malaise, Rheumatology department, CHU de Liège, Liege 4000, Belgium; olivier.malaise{at}chuliege.be

https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-218244

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    We read with interest the article of Bozzalla Cassione et al about COVID-19 incidence in their systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cohort.1 Their study adds useful epidemiological information about COVID-19 risk in SLE.1 They suggest that hydroxycholoroquine was not protective, but could not draw definite conclusion and open the question to immunosuppressive drugs’ influence. We would like to share analysis of our SLE cohort (n=225) that can help to answer these questions and determine COVID-19 infection risk factors.

    Determining COVID-19 incidence is challenging: PCR lacks sensitivity, was usually realised only in severely ill patients and patients with suggestive benign symptoms could stay at home without medical contact. We studied the incidence of COVID-19 infection, either asserted or suspected, by analysing positive nasopharyngeal PCR, hospitalisation or contact with emergency department, but also suspected diagnosis in ambulatory medicine. Each patient was called by phone to determine COVID-19 suggestive symptoms since 4 February 2020, date of the first case in our country.

    Among our patients, 92.9% were female, with a mean (±SD) age of 51.7 (±14.9) years. Most recent biological evaluation showed positivity for ds-DNA in 24% (median (min–max) levels: 139 (12–758) IU/mL). Mean (±SD) number of 1997 American College of Rheumatology (ACR), 2019 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) classification criteria were 4.5 (±1.5), …

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors Design of the study: MGM, OM. Data acquisition and data extraction: ZG, MT, MG, LS, OM. Statistical analysis: MT, MG, LS. Data interpretation: ZG, CvF, CR, BA, MGM, OM. Manuscript writing: CvF, CR, BA, MGM, OM. Manuscript revision: ZG, CvF, CR, BA, MT, MG, LS, MGM, OM.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting or dissemination plans of this research. Refer to the Methods section for further details.

    • Patient consent for publication Not required.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; internally peer reviewed.