REACTIVE ARTHRITIS ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 INFECTION: A REVIEW
Abstract: AB0692
Authors: F. Alkindi et al.
Key content:
In this literature research the clinical presentation and management outcomes of COVID-19 associated reactive arthritis is reported. COVID-19 associated reactive arthritis is rarely reported. In review of the literature only 10 cases were identified. The mean age of cases (n=11) was of 42.8 years and 54.5 % of patients were males. The median duration of reactive arthritis diagnosis from COVID-19 infection ranged from 1 to 8 weeks. The majority of the patients had oligoarticular involvement (2 to 4 joints) in 45.5%, followed by monoarticular in 36.4%, and polyarticular (> 4 joints) in 18%. Extra-articular manifestations were identified in 54.5% of patients including skin rash, wrist tendinitis, Achilles enthesitis/tendonitis and balanitis. Therapy provided to such cases were NSAIDS (n=4), steroids (oral, intra-articular) (n=1) or a combination of steroids and NSAIDS (n=3) with favourable outcomes.
Relevance:
Reactive arthritis seems to occur rarely in COVID-19. Only 10 cases are published in the literature between January 2020 to January 2021. Most of these patients had oligoarticular disease and some had extraarticular manifestations such as enthesitis and skin involvement. Symptomatic treatment with NSAIDS or steroids was effective, and the prognosis was favourable.
In my personal experience I have seen 3 patients with arthritis, mainly oligoarticular disease after COVID-19. More frequent seems to be a reactivation of current inflammatory rheumatic disease during or shortly after SARS-CoV-2 infection.
