A study involving 94 unvaccinated individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis infected with COVID-19 showed immune response variations based on treatment types. While most developed immune responses, those treated with rituximab exhibited reduced antibody levels and impaired CD8+ T-cell activation. Analysis included various immunomodulatory drugs, revealing that despite lower responses in rituximab patients, CD4+ T-cell proliferation was preserved, indicating partial adaptive immunity. The research, led by Maxime Beretta from Institut Pasteur and University Paris Cité, advocates for careful monitoring in these patients post-COVID-19 infection.

Source: RMD Open