Modulation of chronic inflammatory responses by COVID19

National Institute Of Arthritis And Musculoskeletal And Skin Diseases

Investigators

Abstract

During this year, we wrote the proposal, submitted to IRB and initiated the study. We have so far enrolled 146 subjects to the study, including individuals with SLE, RA, idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, ANCA vasculitis, Sjogren syndrome, autoimmune kidney diseases and scleroderma. A subset of patients are also undergoing FDG-PET CT to assess for vascular inflammation. At this point, patients are either undergoing baseline or first follow up visit post-vaccine or post-COVID. Samples are being collected and stored for subsequent whole genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, multi-color flow cytometry of immune cell subsets, autoantibodies and cytokines. Patients are also undergoing vascular function tests to assess modulation of vascular responses post exposure.