Autoantibodies in Patients with Diagnosis of Covid-19 and Rheumatic Diseases

Introduction: COVID-19 is a disease that generates alterations of the immune system. These can affect the immune profile of rheumatic diseases. Objective: To identify the behavior of the immunological profile of patients with rheumatic diseases in whom the diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed. Methodology: A basic research was carried out including elements of clinical research. Universe made up of 116 patients with rheumatic diseases, according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology, and COVID-19. Immunological profile values ―were determined in relation to the underlying rheumatic disease at the time of diagnosis of COVID-19, and after 7, 15, 30 and 90 days after the diagnosis of respiratory involvement. Results: An increase in rheumatoid factor was identified in up to 76.31 percent of the cases with rheumatoid arthritis 30 days after diagnosis of COVID-19. 18.18 percent of the patients with spondyloarthropathies presented positive RF after 15 days of diagnosis of the respiratory disease. There was an increase in patients with lupus and supplement consumption and patients with Sjögren's syndrome and positivity of anti-SSa (61.54 percent) and anti-SSb (41.15 percent). Conclusions: COVID-19 generates changes in the immunological profile of patients with RD due to antibody positivity and complement consumption; even behaving irregularly in the case of RF positivity in patients with AD. Most immune alterations persist for up to 90 days after COVID-19 diagnosis(AU)