SARS-CoV-2 antibody test results in rheumatic disease patients with COVID-19 confirmed by PCR
| Age, years | Sex | Rheumatic disease diagnosis | Rheumatic disease treatment | Timing of SARS-CoV-2 antibody test(s) relative to first positive COVID-19 PCR | SARS-CoV-2 antibody test result(s) | COVID-19 complications | COVID-19 pharmacologic treatment | COVID-19 clinical outcome |
| Negative/variable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies | ||||||||
| 48 | Female | Psoriatic arthritis | Leflunomide 10 mg daily, prednisone 10 mg daily | T+177 days | Negative total antibody* | None | None | Fully recovered |
| 62 | Female | ANCA-associated vasculitis | Rituximab 1 g (started T−6 years, most recent dose T−149 days), azathioprine 100 mg daily, prednisone 7.5 mg daily | T+28 days† T+71 days T+111 days T+216 days | Negative IgG, negative IgM‡ Negative total antibody* Negative total antibody* Negative total antibody* | Hospitalisation with ICU admission Respiratory failure requiring oxygen therapy by high flow nasal cannula | Hydroxychloroquine, Remdesivir | Persistent cough (T+238 days). Oxygen requirement resolved by hospital discharge. |
| 45 | Male | Antiphospholipid syndrome | Prednisone 15 mg daily, cyclophosphamide 250 mg daily, rituximab 1 g (started T−5 years, most recent dose T−11 days), eculizumab 900 mg (started and most recent dose T−9 days) | T+28 days T+81 days T+87 days T+107 days | Positive IgM, negative IgG‡ Positive IgM, positive IgG‡ Positive IgM, positive IgG‡ Negative total antibody* | Hospitalisation with ICU admission Respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation; circulatory shock | Remdesivir, SARS-CoV-2 antibody cocktail (regeneron) (T+145 days) | Death (T+154 days) |
| Positive SARS-CoV-2 antibodies | ||||||||
| 26 | Female | Systemic lupus erythematosus | None | T+1 hour T+7 days | Positive total antibody* Positive total antibody* | Hospitalisation with ICU admission TTP requiring plasma exchange and glucocorticoids | None | Recurrent TTP episode (T+58 days) |
| 71 | Female | Rheumatoid arthritis | None | T+58 days | Positive total antibody* | None | None | Fully recovered |
| 73 | Male | Psoriatic arthritis | Etanercept 50 mg weekly | T+60 days | Positive total antibody* | None | None | Fully recovered |
| 54 | Female | Systemic lupus erythematosus | Rituximab 720 mg (started T−86 days, most recent dose T−2 days) | T+60 days | IgG positive, IgM not performed‡ | None | None | Fully recovered |
| 63 | Female | Systemic lupus erythematosus | Azathioprine 100 mg daily, belimumab 720 mg monthly (started T−336 days, most recent dose T−20 days) | T+88 days | Positive total antibody* | None | None | Fully recovered |
| 55 | Female | Sarcoidosis | None | T+93 days | Positive total antibody* | None | None | Fully recovered |
| 52 | Female | Rheumatoid arthritis | None | T+94 days T+210 days | Positive total antibody* Positive total antibody* | Hospitalisation without ICU admission Supplemental oxygen by nasal cannula | None | Fully recovered |
| 68 | Female | Polymyositis | Prednisone 6 mg daily, methotrexate 25 mg weekly | T+129 days | Positive total antibody* | None | None | Fully recovered |
| 51 | Female | Neurosarcoidosis | Methotrexate 15 mg weekly | T+155 days | Positive total antibody* | None | None | Fully recovered |
| 72 | Female | Psoriatic arthritis | Methotrexate 25 mg weekly | T+203 days | Positive total tntibody* | Hospitalisation without ICU admission; no oxygen requirement | None | Prolonged fatigue (T+262 days) |
*Measured with the Roche Elecsys assay, which reports the positivity of total SARS-CoV-2 antibody (IgM and IgG) and has 99.5% sensitivity at 14 days after COVID-19 infection.
†T=time zero, defined as the date of the first positive COVID-19 PCR test.
‡Measured with the Viracor Eurofins assay, which reports IgM and IgG antibody positivity to SARS-CoV-2. The sensitivity of the assay is unknown.
ANCA, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody; ICU, intensive care unit; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; T, time zero; TTP, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.