Additional points to consider before incorporating the Food and Drug Administration ‐approved therapies for systemic sclerosis‐associated interstitial lung disease

AbstractWe congratulate the authors for the excellent review, not only restricted to recently approved therapies, on the treatment of systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) (1). However, it is our opinion that some aspects that currently affect our medical practice merit further commentary.The pandemic of COVID-19 has generated unique challenges in the therapy of SSc-ILD, especially impacting the decision to start treatment. While there is no evidence suggesting that cyclophosphamide or rituximab can reduce mortality in SSc-ILD (2), these drugs have been associated with higher incidence of serious outcomes and mortality in COVID-19 patients (3, 4).
Source: Arthritis and Rheumatology - Category: Rheumatology Authors: Tags: LETTER TO THE EDITOR Source Type: research