The onset of systemic scleroderma in combination with polymyositis (cross-form) after suffering from COVID-19

Abstract

According to current concepts, immuno-inflammatory rheumatic diseases are similar to COVID-19 in terms of clinical manifestations, immune responses and pathogenetic mechanisms, which is due to the systemic nature of the lesion. In patients with genetic prerequisites, both infection and vaccination against COVID-19 can trigger the immune-inflammatory process. The article presents a clinical observation demonstrating the diagnostic difficulties encountered in the diagnosis of systemic scleroderma and polymyositis that developed after COVID-19. Оnly timely diagnosis and adequate therapy can significantly improve the condition and, consequently, the prognosis of this category of patients. A special feature of this case is the absence of autoimmune markers – immunoblots confirming the diagnosis of systemic scleroderma and polymyositis in the presence of vivid clinical symptoms of each of these diseases. The addition of rituximab to the standard basic therapy increases its effectiveness.