POS1247 CLINICAL FEATURES AND OUTCOMES OF COVID-19 IN PATIENTS WITH IGG4-RELATED DISEASE. A COLLABORATIVE EUROPEAN MULTI-CENTRE STUDY
Authors: G. A. Ramirez, M. Lanzillotta, M. Ebbo, A. Fernandez-Codina, G. Mancuso, F. Martínez-Valle, O. Orozco-Galvez, N. Schleinitz, L. Dagna, E. L. Culver, E. Della Torre
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2021)

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic-spread systemic infectious disease with prominent respiratory manifestations and significant associated morbidity and mortality. Elderly people are most significantly affected with mortality ranging from 2.4% (age 60-69) to 19.6% (age&gt;80) in European Countries. The prevalence of COVID-19 and of its complications in patients with immune-mediated disorders, remains unclear. The frequency and impact of COVID-19 on patients with IgG4-related diease (IgG4-RD), many of whom are on concurrent immunosuppression has not been addressed. Objectives: To assess the epidemiological and clinical relevance of COVID-19 in patients with IgG4-RD. Methods: This is a multi-centre retrospective observational study of IgG4-RD patients from France, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom. Demographics, comorbidities, IgG4-RD features, current and past treatment along with COVID-19-suggestive symptoms and COVID-19 diagnoses from February 2020 to January 2021 were recorded by means of direct or phone interviews. Patients with reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction-confirmed (cCOVID) or presumed COVID-19 based on clinical, serological or imaging features (pCOVID) were pooled for analysis (totCOVID) and compared to patients who were not diagnosed with COVID-19. Inter-group comparison of categorical and quantitative variables were performed by using the chi-square test with Fisher’s correction and the Mann-Whitney’s test respectively. Data are expressed as median (interquartile range) unless otherwise specified. Results: A total of 305 patients [71% males, median age 64 (54-74) years] were studied. Pancreato-biliary disease was the most frequently observed IgG4-RD phenotype (39%). Fifty-one percent of patients were taking corticosteroids at time of interview and 30% were on biological or conventional immunosuppressants. Thirty-two totCOVID cases (23 cCOVID, nine pCOVID) were identified: 11/32 were hospitalised, two needed intensive care and four (13%; 3/4 aged &gt;80 years) died. Having one or more infected family members was a risk factor for COVID-19 in patients with IgG4-RD (OR=19.9; p&lt;0.001). No other demographic, clinical or treatment features associated with COVID-19. In particular there was no association between adverse outcomes with COVID-19 and higher doses of steroids (&gt;20mg) or rituximab administration. Conclusion: The prevalence and course of COVID-19 in IgG4-RD patients are similar to those of the general population of the same age, with no evident impact of disease- or treatment-related factors to the basal infectious risk. Effective public health countermeasures might be beneficial for patients with IgG4RD. References: [1]European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): https://covid19-surveillance-report.ecdc.europa.eu/ [2]Yang H, Ann Rheum Dis, 2021 Disclosure of Interests: Giuseppe Alvise Ramirez: None declared, Marco Lanzillotta: None declared, Mikael Ebbo: None declared, Andreu Fernandez-Codina Consultant of: consulting fees from Atheneum Consulting, Gaia Mancuso: None declared, Fernando Martínez-Valle: None declared, Olimpia Orozco-Galvez: None declared, Nicolas Schleinitz: None declared, Lorenzo Dagna Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, BristolMyers Squibb, Celltrion, Galapagos, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, and SOBI, Grant/research support from: The Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases (UnIRAR) received unresctricted research/educational grants from Abbvie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, GlaxoSmithKline,Janssen, Merk Sharp &amp; Dohme, Mundipharma Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi Genzyme, and SOBI, Emma L. Culver: None declared, Emanuel Della Torre: None declared