COVID-19 VACCINE IN EGYPTIAN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND OTHER RHEUMATIC DISEASES

Aboud, Fatma M; Hussein, Rasha S; El Bably, Mona M; Hassan, Rasha M

doi:10.21608/asmj.2023.298370

COVID-19 VACCINE IN EGYPTIAN PATIENTS WITH SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND OTHER RHEUMATIC DISEASES

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Internal medicine, Ain Shams university, Cairo, Egypt.+

² Internal medicine Armed Forces faculty of medicine, Egypt.

³ Public health Ain Shams university, Egypt.

⁴ Physical medicine, Ain Shams university, Cairo, Egypt.

⁵ Internal medicine, Ain Shams university, Cairo, Egypt.

10.21608/asmj.2023.298370

Abstract

Background: There is a huge debate about the COVID vaccination in the rheumatic patients. Is it safe? Is it effective? COVID vaccine proved to decrease COVID 19 infection in general population. Aim of the work: To study the clinical efficacy and adverse effects of COVID 19 vaccine in Egyptian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other rheumatic patients. And to identify the impact of steroids and biologic intake on COVID infection, severity and the vaccine response in these patients. Patients & Method: Data of 129 rheumatic patients were recorded including medications, COVID vaccination data. Comparison between SLE, RA and other rheumatic patients was done regarding vaccine side effects, infection before and post vaccination. Patients receiving steroids were compared with those without steroid intake regarding vaccine side effects, pre and post vaccine infection. The same was done regarding biologics. Results: There were 48 SLE patients, 54 RA patients and 27 patients with other rheumatic diseases (psoriatic arthritis, scleroderma and dermatomyositis). There was statistically significant decrease of COVID infection after vaccination (P<0.001). With decreased hospitalization and ICU admission from 0 to 6.45%. No statistically significant difference between SLE, RA and other rheumatic patients regarding side effects, infection before or after vaccination. Patients on steroids and those on biologics didn't show difference from those without steroids or biologics regarding the side effects, infection before or after vaccine. Conclusions: COVID vaccine is tolerable and effective in decreasing COVID infection and severity in patients with SLE, RA and other rheumatic patients.

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