Diagnosis of COVID-19 associated arthritis in patients with or without underlying rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease supported by musculoskeletal ultrasound: a case series from three European centres
Authors' conclusion
In our patients without underlying RMD, arthritides associated with COVID-19 are comparable to the clinical picture of a reactive arthritis (ReA) or other virus-related arthritides (e.g. parvovirus B19). New onset or flares of RMD possibly triggered by COVID-19 are noteworthy.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with arthritis timely related to COVID-19, assessed clinically, by laboratory values and musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS), three European centres, March 2020 to July 2021
- Participants
- 10 adults
- Exposure
- Without underlying rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD) vs With underlying RMD
- Without underlying RMDn = 6
- With underlying RMDn = 4
- Outcome
- Forms of COVID-19 associated arthritis (clinical and MSUS)
Methodological detailsmulticentre, three European centres
- Multicentre
- Three European centres
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Without RMD: polyarticular arthralgia during severe COVID-19, swelling rarely seen, MSUS arthritis only in a few joints affected
- 2
- Without RMD: arthritis four to 16 weeks after mild or moderate COVID-19 (without hospitalisation)
- 4
- Without RMD: polyarthritis
- 1
- Without RMD: oligoarthritis of the upper and lower limb
- 2
- Without RMD: late-onset RA newly diagnosed
- 1
- With RMD: increase of disease activity by MSUS during mild and mild-moderate COVID-19
- 4
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
Diagnosis of COVID-19 associated arthritis in patients with or without underlying rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease supported by musculoskeletal ultrasound: a case series from three European centres. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published 2 March 2022. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →