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Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ; 80(6):677-678, 2021.
Article in English | ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-1226741
ABSTRACT
[...]about 100 years ago, the influenza pandemic of 1918–1920 cost more lives than World War I. It took 15 years from the time of that pandemic to isolate the virus.3 Burnet, recipient of the Nobel prize for physiology and medicine in 1960 for his contribution to the elucidation of acquired immunological tolerance, and who is likely best known to rheumatologists for his clonal selection theory of antibody production,4 was the first to cultivate the influenza virus on developing hen eggs in 1935.5 With his continuing research,6 this achievement ultimately enabled developments that culminated in the production and successful application of influenza vaccines almost a decade later.7 8 Why is influenza mentioned here? [...]because it has been proposed to occasionally elicit autoantibodies like rheumatoid factor and anti-phospholipid antibodies,9 observations that also have been reported for patients with COVID-19 in ARD recently.10 11 Third, because we have learnt in previous studies that disease modifying antirheumatic drugs, including tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, interfere with the efficacy of influenza vaccination only to a small extent,12 while rituximab has significant effects in this respect.13 These and other pieces of information are contained in a timely update of EULAR recommendations regarding vaccinations last year14 but also most recently in EULAR points to consider for the current SARS-CoV-2 vaccination programmes published in this issue.15 And fourth and finally, because the example of a single personality, a pillar and hero across many areas of medicine, Sir Burnet reveals how closely related research into infectious disease and investigations of immunological mechanisms are. All these foundations within the field remain relevant in current therapeutic approaches convalescent serum, monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and vaccination with spike protein are exploratory or approved and effective therapeutic or preventive options. [...]medicines that are part of the rheumatologists’ armamentarium appear to be efficacious against severe COVID-19.18 19 This excursion to Burnet, Ehrlich and Behring should remind us that epidemics and pandemics have been around since times past—obviously already much before the 20th century, such as the plague—and were ultimately successfully conquered. Several points-to-consider or recommendations are presented in this June issue one on the pathophysiology of COVID-19 (accompanied by an elegant editorial)24 25;one on the important topic of adherence to treatment26;and one on the standardisation of scoring in arthritis models, an area where standardisation had not been undertaken hitherto.27 A review authored by one of the world’s premier groups provides an important summary of current knowledge and prospects on functional genomics.28 In the ‘Heroes and Pillars of Rheumatology’ section, eminent authors remind us of two major figures in rheumatology of the late 20th century into the most recent years, Charles L Christian and Joachim R Kalden, a US and a European hero, respectively, who have inspired the whole world with their research and personalities.29 30 These remarkable leaders were among the most important scientific and clinical pillars of modern rheumatology, mentoring numerous rheumatologists, including chairpersons of rheumatology departments who are active in our current day, and both having been Presidents of the respective major organisations across the Atlantic, namely, ACR and EULAR.

Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: ProQuest Central Language: English Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases Year: 2021 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: ProQuest Central Language: English Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases Year: 2021 Document Type: Article