Interleukin Deficiency Disorder Patient Responses to COVID-19 Infections

Abstract

Background: The chemokine, cytokine interleukin deficiency disorder defines the immune deficiency disease of fibromyalgia and a reduced ability to produce IL-6 and IL-8. Recent research has demonstrated improved outcomes in COVID-19 infections treated with IL-6 antagonists.9 These fibromyalgia cytokine deficient patients were screened for COVID-19 infections and associated morbidity and mortality rates. Methods: Two cohorts of FM/a test positive fibromyalgia patients were evaluated.  Initially, 4,631 patients were screened to determine the occurrence of known COVID-19 infections. Subsequently, 2,195 FM/a test positive patients underwent COVID-19 antibody testing.  Results: A total of 7,375 fibromyalgia patients were screened for the occurrence of COVID-19 infections. Of these, 4,631 individuals responded to an email-based inquiry to determine the occurrence of documented COVID-19 infections. Only 10 reported having symptoms consistent with and were diagnosed with COVID-19 by a healthcare professional, making for an incidence of .22%. Another 2,195 fibromyalgia patients completed health questionnaires and COVID-19 antibody testing and 82 had evidence of COVID-19 antibodies with 42 exhibiting symptoms and confirmed diagnoses. Of the remaining, 23 were asymptomatic.  There were no deaths and only 1 hospitalization in this group. Conclusion: Individuals with FM/a test positive fibromyalgia have a reduced ability to produce IL-6 and IL-8 which play significant roles in the cytokine storm complications associated with COVID-19 infections. When screened for evidence of past COVID-19 infections, these patients experienced an extremely low incidence of COVID-19 infections based upon antibody testing, there were no mortalities and the level of morbidity was significantly below what has been reported in general populations.