Coronavirus (Covid-19) and Immunosuppressive medication (Imuran)

quincy said...
Novel idea of washing hands.
q

You would think....wouldn't you...
I read something yesterday that only 20% of people wash their hands with soap and water after going to the toilet...

This is an international forum, although of course most visitors are based in north America. I do think the US has an advantage of the population
being more spread out than in other countries. I'm in Europe in a very densely populated area, and currently the nearest outbreak of coronavirus is about 30 miles from my house. It is very real, I'm just trying to stay calm and see what happens. I bought a few extra tins and things for the freezer in case I need to self isolate at any point. Apparently you're better equipped to fight an infection if you're in remission on biologics than having a flare (and not on biologics).

Thanks Q! Fingers crossed....

Here and other UC/IBD forums are flooded with this question lately.

I read something by David T. Rubin, MD (Professor and Chief of GI, The University of Chicago Medicine) said we just do not know enough to say how UC/IBD patients are affected or how these immunosuppressing meds impact risk.
Tweetorial on #coronavirus https://threader.app/thread/1233115884656431104
Rubin's twitter: https://twitter.com/ibdmd

A source said being on TNF-alpha blockers might be beneficial against the cryotine storm at the end of the illness. https://www.nature.com/articles/cmi201574

Overall, I believe being on thiopurines or biologics does not make us more susceptible to getting ill, it only impacts our immune system's weakened response to fight it off.

I came here looking for this information.

While it hasn't reached huge levels in the USA, I think it is only a matter of time. Too much contact between people, especially within cities and even suburbs. Plus, a lot of people get normal flu symptoms and they dont take the steps they need to... so i would bet it starts moving within the USA soon. All the more reason to get a plan in place now while things are calm.

My understanding is that your employer has to make reasonable accommodations (this is for the USA) for those with disabilities. So i would think bosses would be okay with you working from home or taking other steps to protect yourself from this. Mine was when i talked to him.

My questions are about my medication specifically and what would if we caught the virus. I am on Entyvio where some have said it isnt that immunosuppressant, but others say it is immunosuppressant and regardless, i should be on the lookout.

My question is, does being immunosuppressant mean you are more likely to catch the virus or would it be harder to fight the virus if you caught it... or both.

I am going to call my doctor later today, i was just curious if anyone else had.

My understanding is that it's better to keep yourself in remission than try to fight an infection while flaring. But going to ask my doctor about this.
Xeljanz has a very short half life (something like 5 hours?) So with that there is indeed the option to stop taking it, but I don't know if I want to risk triggering a flare as a result.
The nearest case is now 8 miles from my house. A couple of the hospitals where coronavirus patients passed through (before diagnosis...so precautions not taken) are closed to new patients/appointments, I'm assuming that means they aren't doing infusions. I guess the affected people will be directed to another hospital.

I found this advice on the website for crohns and colitis uk:
Am I at extra risk because I am taking immunosuppression treatment?Immunosuppressive medicine for Crohn’s and Colitis includes azathioprine, mercaptopurine, methotrexate, cyclosporin, infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, ustekinumab, prednisolone, and budesonide. Visit our treatments pages for information about these medicines and how they may affect you.People taking immunosuppressants for their Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis are not at increased risk of catching Wuhan novel coronavirus, however they may be at extra risk of complications from the virus if they are infected.In the majority of cases, you will be advised to continue with your current treatment as there is the potential for a flare of your IBD and subsequent need for drugs such as steroids if maintenance treatment is stopped.People on immunosuppressants should seek advice by telephone if they develop symptoms of either seasonal Influenza or Wuhan novel coronavirus.

Thank you that is good to know. The problem with coronavirus is that there are no known medical treatments. Unless you're lucky to live in a place where they are trialling antivirals. The virus has arrived in my town now, I am quite scared tbh, apart from anything else I don't know who will look after my dog if I am too sick to leave the house and put under quarantine/ have to go to hospital (i mean there are people who would do it but they might get infected by me).

The first community spread of the corona virus in NY was just confirmed in Westchester.

Mike Pence shock hands with a kid last week in Florida who is now in quarantine.

Here's an interesting read by a PHD immunologist:
https://www.reddit.com/r/ireland/comments/fckr0c/coronavirus_ask_the_irish_scientistsdoctors/

And it might live a while on surfaces:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/victoriaforster/2020/02/09/scientists-predict-coronavirus-may-live-for-up-to-nine-days-on-surfaces

I gotta admit that I got way more nervous about this after it became clear that the government really wasn't on top of this. I knew how well they handled things with Ebola a few years back and just kinda assumed that department would still be competent.

OMG! Can you imagine what would have happened if the current-powers-that-be had been in charge back then?

It blows my mind that at a minimum there weren't tests kits for CV available and the CDC would only test certain people even when hospitals had sick people who tested negative for everything else. Other countries are randomly stopping people and testing them. If they can do that why the h can't our hospitals? If they do finally start testing I suspect the numbers are going to drastically rise.

So far no cases in PA. I have a remi infusion on Sat. I get my infusions at the hospital infusion room. I never like walking in the hospital. Will be hating it Saturday. I wonder if I can hold my breath for 3 hours lol

@UCer23 -- yep on the reasonable accommodations. I work from home most of the week, but my boss said that I can do full time while this all plays out if I just bring in a note from my doctor recommending I limit my time on public transportation or large groups, as public transport is the only reasonable way to get to the office.

@poopydoop -- I have a friend who works at my state's dept of public health and is on the coronavirus team. She told me that the CDC recommends you not cuddle/spend a lot of time touching your pets if you have the virus. She did say that a family member or friend should be able to come in and get your dog -- just wear a mask and gloves and don't touch anything, and then give the dog a bath first thing without letting it touch anything in the house it will stay at. If I get sick, my parents will need to drive 6 hours and snag my pup, which of course they will do bc she is my baby.

There have been some rumours in the Netherlands about using chloroquine (an old malaria drug) to treat the virus...but it's all a bit vague and comes from media sources that I don't trust.
I found a foster home for my doggy if I get sick. Wrote them 4 pages of instructions hahaha. Plus i already put a bag of her things by the front door in case they need to grab her quickly.