HLA-B27 did not protect against COVID-19 in patients with axial spondyloarthritis - data from the ReumaCov-Brasil Registry

BACKGROUND

Some studies have suggested the HLA-B27 gene may protect against some infections, as well as it could play a benefit role on the viral clearance, including hepatitis C and HIV. However, there is lack of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic data in spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients.

AIM

To evaluate the impact of HLA-B27 gene positivity on the susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 and disease activity in axial SpA patients.

METHODS

The ReumaCoV-Brasil is a multicenter, observational, prospective cohort designed to monitor immune-mediated rheumatic diseases patients during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Brazil. Axial SpA patients, according to the ASAS classification criteria (2009), and only those with known HLA-B27 status, were included in this ReumaCov-Brasil's subanalysis. After pairing them to sex and age, they were divided in two groups: with (cases) and without (control group) COVID-19 diagnosis. Other immunodeficiency diseases, past organ or bone marrow transplantation, neoplasms and current chemotherapy were excluded. Demographic data, managing of COVID-19 (diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes, including hospitalization, mechanical ventilation, and death), comorbidities, clinical details (disease activity and concomitant medication) were collected using the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) database. Data are presented as descriptive analysis and multiple regression models, using SPSS program, version 20. P level was set as 5%.

RESULTS

From May 24th, 2020 to Jan 24th, 2021, a total of 153 axial SpA patients were included, of whom 85 (55.5%) with COVID-19 and 68 (44.4%) without COVID-19. Most of them were men (N = 92; 60.1%) with mean age of 44.0 ± 11.1 years and long-term disease (11.7 ± 9.9 years). Regarding the HLA-B27 status, 112 (73.2%) patients tested positive. There were no significant statistical differences concerning social distancing, smoking, BMI (body mass index), waist circumference and comorbidities. Regarding biological DMARDs, 110 (71.8%) were on TNF inhibitors and 14 (9.15%) on IL-17 antagonists. Comparing those patients with and without COVID-19, the HLA-B27 positivity was not different between groups (n = 64, 75.3% vs. n = 48, 48%, respectively; p = 0.514). In addition, disease activity was similar before and after the infection. Interestingly, no new episodes of arthritis, enthesitis or extra-musculoskeletal manifestations were reported after the COVID-19. The mean time from the first symptoms to hospitalization was 7.1 ± 3.4 days, and although the number of hospitalization days was numerically higher in the B27 positive group, no statistically significant difference was observed (5.7 ± 4.11 for B27 negative patients and 13.5 ± 14.8 for B27 positive patients; p = 0.594). Only one HLA-B27 negative patient died. No significant difference was found regarding concomitant medications, including conventional or biologic DMARDs between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

No significant difference of COVID-19 frequency rate was observed in patients with axial SpA regarding the HLA-B27 positivity, suggesting a lack of protective effect with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In addition, the disease activity was similar before and after the infection.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was approved by the Brazilian Committee of Ethics in Human Research (CONEP), CAAE 30186820.2.1001.8807, and was registered at the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials - REBEC, RBR-33YTQC. All patients read and signed the informed consent form before inclusion.

Tswana speaking South Africans’ understanding of pain scales

Aim: The aim of this study was to establish the validity and reliability of the Tswanatranslations of three pain scales.Design: This was a cross–sectional study to validate and test the reliability of threepain scales.Participants:   One hundred subjects participated in the study. They were selectedfrom the back schools of five hospitals in the North -West Province of South A frica andfrom workers in these hospitals who were employed as kitchen workers, laundryworkers and cleaners.Method: Translation of the pain scales and the stages of cross-cultural adaptation were followed as recommended byBeaton et al (2000). Pain tolerance of the subjects was measured using a P.T.M. (pressure threshold meter). The painscales used were the V.A .S. (visual analogue scale) one (nought and ten only), the V.A .S. (visual analogue scale) two(nought through to ten), the W.B.F. (Wong-Baker Faces pain measure) and the V.R.S. (verbal rating scale).  The V.R.S.used came in two forms. The first form was written on cue cards which the subjects arranged in order and the second form was the questionnaire version of the V.R.S.The subjects were interviewed and asked five questions relating to their back pain. Upon completion of the interviewthe pressure threshold of the painful area (back) was tested. Subjects then filled in the three pain scales, namely the (V.A .S. one, V.A .S. two, the V.R.S. and lastly the W.B.F. pain scale). Approximately a third of the sample (37) was retested the following day following the same procedure asdescribed above. Results: There was no correlation between the pressure threshold meter readings and the pain scale measurements.  Conclusion: From the statistical analysis of the results, it became apparent that the subjects tested did not have anunderstanding of any of the three pain scales. Future research needs to be done in developing entirely different scales for peoples of low literacy and differentlanguage and cultural groups in South Africa.