This Research Topic is the second volume of the successful project, Challenges of COVID-19 in Dermatology Patients on Immunosuppression: Risk, Outcome, Vaccination and Beyond. Please find the first Edition
here.
Corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs, and biological agents are key elements of the treatment of immune-mediated diseases. The rise of the COVID-19 pandemic has raised the question of whether these drugs should be continued in the face of the risk of this life-threatening viral infection. Meanwhile, the immune system plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. The release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the so-called cytokine storm induce clinical deterioration in later stages of the infection and have led to the hypothesis that immunosuppressants and biologicals may have a place in the arsenal of the hyperinflammatory state of COVID-19. In order to control this devastating pandemic, a variety of vaccines with diverse technologies have been developed and others are currently under experimental testing. The approved vaccines have been given an emergency clearance and are claimed to decrease the risk of getting COVID-19, and to protect against COVID-related hospitalization and death. Some related issues are important to be addressed in patients on immunosuppression. The most notable ones are that vaccines are generally less efficacious in these patients and on the other hand, those based on live viruses are not considered safe. Furthermore, vaccines may act as triggers in autoimmune diseases.
This Research Topic will cover Reviews, Original Research Articles, Case Series and Case Reports regarding all aspects of COVID-19 for dermatology patients on immunosuppression. The risk of severe COVID-19, various outcomes including hospitalization and mortality, as well as the efficacy and safety of vaccination in different inflammatory or autoimmune skin diseases are of special interest. The spectrum of diseases includes, but is not limited to:
• Autoimmune bullous diseases
• Psoriasis, atopic dermatitis
• Hidradenitis suppurativa
• Cutaneous lupus erythematosus
• Dermatomyositis
• Sarcoidosis
Topic Editor Dedee F Murrell declares that they are a consultant for Roche, Principia Bio, Lilly, GSK, Novartis and Sanofi. Editor Aikaterini Patsatsi reports principal site investigator/advisory roles for Principia Biopharma and Argenx; investigator for clinical studies/advisor/speaker honoraria by AbbVie, Genesis Pharma, Janssen, Leo, Novartis, Pharmaserv - Lilly, Pfizer, Sanofi and UCB.
Topic Editors Maryam Daneshpazhooh, HamidReza Mahmoudi and Soheil Tavakolpour declare no conflicts of interest.
