COVID-19 in Patients with Behçet’s disease

November 9, 2022

The authors of a recent study aimed to understand the prevalence of COVID-19-related clinical outcomes in patients with Behçet’s disease treated with colchicine, TNF inhibitors, or glucocorticoids.

The study included an online questionnaire with 244 Behcet’s disease patients, 36 (14.75%) of which were infected with SARS-CoV-2. The infection rate among Behçet’s disease patients was higher than the rate in the general population in Spain (5.8%), where the study took place. 

In patients who took colchicine at the dose of 0.5 mg/day, researchers observed a lower prevalence of ageusia (loss of taste) than in patients taking 1.5 mg/day of colchicine. Patients taking TNF inhibitors had a higher prevalence of dyspnea (shortness of breath) compared to those not taking TNF inhibitors, but there was no difference regarding analyzed COVID-19 symptoms found in patients taking oral glucocorticoids.

Even though the study gives a first glance at the COVID-19 outcomes in Behçet’s disease patients, the authors admit that the study results need to be analyzed with caution as the results are preliminary and the study has limitations, including a small sample size and bias due to the online questionnaire. Additionally, the authors did not collect information on daily doses of TNF inhibitors, oral glucocorticoids or other medications taken by patients, which could influence the results.