Use of biologicals in allergic and type-2 inflammatory diseases during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Position paper of Ärzteverband Deutscher Allergologen (AeDA)A, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Allergologie und Klinische Immunologie (DGAKI)B, Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Allergologie und Umweltmedizin (GPA)C, Österreichische Gesellschaft für Allergologie und Immunologie (ÖGAI)D, Luxemburgische Gesellschaft für Allergologie und Immunologie (LGAI)E, Österreichische Gesellschaft für Pneumologie (ÖGP)F in co-operation with the German, Austrian, and Swiss ARIA groupsG, and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI)H

Klimek, Ludger;Pfaar, Oliver;Worm, Margitta;Eiwegger, Thomas;Hagemann, Jan;Ollert, Markus;Untersmayr, Eva;Hoffmann-Sommergruber, Karin;Vultaggio, Alessandra;Agache, Ioana;Bavbek, Sevim;Bossios, Apostolos;Casper, Ingrid;Chan, Susan;Chatzipetrou, Alexia;Vogelberg, Christian;Firinu, Davide;Kauppi, Paula;Kolios, Antonios;Kothari, Akash;Matucci, Andrea;Palomares, Oscar;Szépfalusi, Zsolt;Pohl, Wolfgang;Hötzenecker, Wolfram;Rosenkranz, Alexander R;Bergmann, Karl-Christian;Bieber, Thomas;Buhl, Roland;Buters, Jeroen;Darsow, Ulf;Keil, Thomas;Kleine-Tebbe, Jörg;Lau, Susanne;Maurer, Marcus;Merk, Hans;Mösges, Ralph;Saloga, Joachim;Staubach, Petra;Jappe, Uta;Rabe, Klaus F;Rabe, Uta;Vogelmeier, Claus;Biedermann, Tilo;Jung, Kirsten;Schlenter, Wolfgang;Ring, Johannes;Chaker, Adam;Wehrmann, Wolfgang;Becker, Sven;Freudelsperger, Laura;Mülleneisen, Norbert;Nemat, Katja;Czech, Wolfgang;Wrede, Holger;Brehler, Randolf;Fuchs, Thomas;Tomazic, Peter-Valentin;Aberer, Werner;Fink-Wagner, Antje-Henriette;Horak, Fritz;Wöhrl, Stefan;Niederberger-Leppin, Verena;Pali-Schöll, Isabella;Pohl, Wolfgang;Roller-Wirnsberger, Regina;Spranger, Otto;Valenta, Rudolf;Akdis, Mübecell;Matricardi, Paolo M;Spertini, François;Khaltaev, Nicolai;Michel, Jean-Pierre;Nicod, Larent;Schmid-Grendelmeier, Peter;Idzko, Marco;Hamelmann, Eckard;Jakob, Thilo;Werfel, Thomas;Wagenmann, Martin;Taube, Christian;Jensen-Jarolim, Erika;Korn, Stephanie;Hentges, Francois;Schwarze, Jürgen;O Mahony, Liam;Knol, Edward F;Del Giacco, Stefano;Chivato Pérez, Tomás;Bousquet, Jean;Bedbrook, Anna;Zuberbier, Torsten;Akdis, Cezmi;Jutel, Marek

2020-01-01

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Abstract

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the treatment of patients with allergic and atopy-associated diseases has faced major challenges. Recommendations for "social distancing" and the fear of patients becoming infected during a visit to a medical facility have led to a drastic decrease in personal doctor-patient contacts. This affects both acute care and treatment of the chronically ill. The immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection is so far only insufficiently understood and could be altered in a favorable or unfavorable way by therapy with monoclonal antibodies. There is currently no evidence for an increased risk of a severe COVID-19 course in allergic patients. Many patients are under ongoing therapy with biologicals that inhibit type 2 immune responses via various mechanisms. There is uncertainty about possible immunological interactions and potential risks of these biologicals in the case of an infection with SARS-CoV-2.