Šenolt l a kolektiv vyboru Česke revmatologicke společnosti. The opinion of the Czech society of rheumatology on the treatment of rheumatic diseases and vaccination in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection

The pandemic of acute respiratory disease COVID-19 caused by a new type of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus significantly affected medical practice. Patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases have an increased risk of infections, not only due to the high activity of the rheumatic disease but especially under the influence of long-term therapy with glucocorticoids, disease-modifying antirheumatic and immunosuppressive drugs. There has been a substantial increase in the number of often conflicting messages in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection and rheumatic diseases. The Czech Society of Rheumatology (CRS) decided to discuss general preventive measures for SARS-CoV-2 infection, the risk of infection and the severe course of COVID-19, and the effect of disease-modifying treatment on the course of COVID-19 in rheumatic patients. An important step was also to provide rheumatologists with practical guidance on how to treat patients with an autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a preliminary opinion on vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. The opinion of the Czech Republic is based on the provisional recommendations of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), the revised version of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), and the latest findings on COVID-19 in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease.