Rheumatology university faculty opinion on coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccines: the vaXurvey study from Egypt.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present work was to explore the perspectives of Egyptian Rheumatology staff members as regards the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) vaccine. METHODS: The survey is composed of 25 questions. Some questions were adapted from the global rheumatology alliance COVID-19 survey for patients. RESULTS: 187 rheumatology staff members across Egypt from 18 universities and authorizations actively participated with a valid response. The mean time needed to complete the survey was 17.7 ± 13 min. Participants were 159 (85%) females (F:M 5.7:1). One-third agreed that they will be vaccinated once available, 24.6% have already received at least one dose, 29.4% are unsure while 16% will not take it. Furthermore, 70.1% agreed that they will recommend it to the rheumatic diseases (RD) patients once available, 24.1% are not sure while 5.9% will not recommend it. RD priority to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in descending order include SLE (82.9%), RA (55.1%), vasculitis (51.3%), systemic sclerosis (39.6%), MCTD (31.6%), Behcet's disease (28.3%). The most common drugs to be avoided before vaccination included biologics (71.7%), DMARDs (44.4%), biosimilars (26.7%), IVIg (17.1%) and NSAIDs (9.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study and specifically the low rate of acceptability are alarming to Egyptian health authorities and should stir further interventions to reduce the levels of vaccine hesitancy. As rheumatic disease patients in Egypt were not systematically provided with the vaccine till present, making the vaccine available could as well enhance vaccine acceptance. Further studies to investigate any possible side effects, on a large scale of RD patients are warranted.

Adult systemic lupus erythematosus in Egypt: The nation-wide spectrum of 3661 patients and world-wide standpoint.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to present the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and treatment pattern of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Egyptian patients over the country and compare the findings to large cohorts worldwide. Objectives were extended to focus on the age at onset and gender driven influence on the disease characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This population-based, multicenter, cross-sectional study included 3661 adult SLE patients from Egyptian rheumatology departments across the nation. Demographic, clinical, and therapeutic data were assessed for all patients. RESULTS: The study included 3661 patients; 3296 females and 365 males (9.03:1) and the median age was 30 years (17-79 years), disease duration 4 years (0-75 years) while the median age at disease onset was 25 years (4-75 years). The overall estimated prevalence of adult SLE in Egypt was 6.1/100,000 population (1.2/100,000 males and 11.3/100,000 females).There were 316 (8.6%) juvenile-onset (Jo-SLE) and 3345 adult-onset (Ao-SLE). Age at onset was highest in South and lowest in Cairo (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: SLE in Egypt had a wide variety of clinical and immunological manifestations, with some similarities with that in other nations and differences within the same country. The clinical characteristics, autoantibodies and comorbidities are comparable between Ao-SLE and Jo-SLE. The frequency of various clinical and immunological manifestations varied between gender. Additional studies are needed to determine the underlying factors contributing to gender and age of onset differences.

A comparative study on the anti-inflammatory effect of angiotensin-receptor blockers & statins on rheumatoid arthritis disease activity.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: : Rheumatoid artherits (RA) is a refractory disease and the imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in favor of pro-inflammatory cytokines has been implicated in pathogenesis of RA. In this context, the aim of the present study was to compare the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of candesartan, an angiotensin-receptor blocker, and atorvastatin in RA patients. METHODS: : In this single-blinded parallel randomized placebo controlled study, the patients recruited between December 2017 and May 2018 were categorized into three groups: group 1 included 15 RA patients who served as control group and received traditional therapy (+ placebo); group 2 included 15 RA patients who received traditional therapy + candesartan (8 mg/day); and group 3 included 15 patients who received traditional therapy + atorvastatin (20 mg/day) for three months. Clinical status in RA patients was evaluated by Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and morning stiffness before and three months after treatment. All groups were subjected to biochemical analysis of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1beta (IL-1ß) and malondialdehyde (MDA) before and three months after treatment. RESULTS: : Both candesartan and atorvastatin treated groups showed significant decrease in serum levels IL-1ß and TNF-α, acute-phase reactants (CRP and ESR), number of swollen joint and patient global assessment. This was also associated with improvement in disease activity and quality of life regarding DAS28 and HAQ-DI as compared to baseline data and the control group. Atorvastatin group showed significant decrease in the serum level of oxidative stress marker (MDA). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: : Both candesartan and atorvastatin showed anti-inflammatory effect and immunomodulatory effects leading to improvement in clinical status and disease activity in RA patients. However, atorvastatin was superior to candesartan through its anti-oxidant effect.

Rheumatologists' practice during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: a survey in Egypt.

The aim of this work is to trace how rheumatologists all over Egypt are approaching the COVID-19 pandemic and what changes it has brought about in the patients' care with special attention to its effect on vulnerable rheumatic disease (RD) patients. This survey further aims to help inform the rheumatology community about the changes in practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey included 26 questions distributed to University staff members across Egypt members of the Egyptian College of Rheumatology (ECR). It takes 5-10 min to fill out. The practice setting of participating rheumatologists included University Teaching Hospitals that are the main rheumatology and clinical immunology service providers for adults and children RD patients. There was an overall agreement across the country in the responses to the survey that took a median time of 7 min to fill in. Potential changes in rheumatology outpatient practice by staff members evolved since the COVID-19 pandemic. None of the university rheumatology staff members has prescribed chloroquine or HCQ to prevent or treat COVID-19 in a non-hospitalized patient who was not previously on it. Twenty-three recommended decrease/avoid NSAIDs if the RD patient had confirmed COVID-19 or symptoms. There is an agreement to the key emerging frontline role of rheumatologists in treating COVID-19. During the pandemic, RD cases requiring admission were dealt with by several modified strategies. The overall agreement among the different university rheumatology departments during such critical situation has provoked the ECR to consider providing provisional guidelines for dealing with RD patients during this global catastrophe.