Arthritis after COVID-19 may be a result of reactive arthritis or long COVID, and joint pain can sometimes be a side effect of the COVID-19 vaccine. One of these conditions is rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Long COVID continues to be a diagnostic challenge due to its similarities with SARD. Recent studies, including one published on April 27, 2021, in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases (doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-220479), explore the potential connection between COVID-19 and the onset of rheumatoid arthritis.
Patients with inflammatory arthritis who are under regular medical care are generally accepting the COVID-19 vaccine and its booster, recognizing its importance in providing protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death from infection. However, individuals with autoimmune diseases and those on DMARDs may have a lower response to the vaccine.
In the United States, about 23 million people are suffering from long COVID symptoms. Studies indicate a higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, vitiligo, alopecia totalis, vasculitis, and ulcerative colitis following COVID-19 infection.
A study comparing post-COVID symptoms in individuals with pre-existing fibromyalgia to those with pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis or other rheumatic diseases found no significant difference in the development of long COVID symptoms between these groups. However, more lung disease and hospital admissions were noted in the group with rheumatic diseases.
Recent reports have also highlighted cases of arthralgia and arthritis following SARS-CoV-2 infection, including patients who were negative for rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA). A case described in The Lancet Rheumatology on February 20, 2020, involved a 67-year-old non-smoking man who developed arthritis post-COVID-19.
Moreover, there has been an increased incidence of various autoimmune disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, gout, and sarcoidosis, after the COVID-19 pandemic. This surge in autoimmune diseases is a subject of ongoing research and concern.
A review of the persistent effects of COVID-19 on muscles, nerves, joints, soft tissue, and bone revealed a range of symptoms like arm and leg weakness, pain, numbness, joint pain and swelling with restricted motion, and severe fatigue. These findings, led by senior author Dr. Swati Deshmukh, emphasize the diverse impact of COVID-19 on the musculoskeletal system.
Finally, COVID-19’s capacity to induce severe inflammation and autoimmune phenomena has been a topic of considerable interest. Studies have noted the presence of autoantibodies, including anti-cardiolipin, anti-β2-glycoprotein I, antinuclear antibodies, and ACPA, in COVID-19 patients, raising questions about the virus’s potential role in exacerbating or triggering rheumatoid arthritis.
For more in-depth information, please refer to the following sources:
Medical News Today
National Center for Biotechnology Information
Hospital for Special Surgery
Forbes
