Viral screening before initiation of biologics in patients with inflammatory bowel disease during the COVID-19 outbreak
Fabiana Zingone,Edoardo Vincenzo Savarino
Published:March 25, 2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-1253(20)30085-6
We read with interest the Comment by Ren Mao and colleagues on the implications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with pre-existing digestive diseases, and the strategies implemented in China to restrict the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.1
We agree with the current evidence that does not support drug suspension and also with the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation COVID-19 Task Force's suggestion that, whenever possible during the COVID-19 pandemic, initiation of treatment with immunosuppressive drugs and biologics should be postponed based on an individual risk assessment.2 However, for patients with substantial clinical activity, delaying the initiation of treatment might not always be possible.