The oral cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) agonist lenabasum showed promising results for systemic sclerosis (SSc) in a phase II study.

The Annals of Rheumatic Disease has published the preliminary recommendations of the German Society of Rheumatology for the management of Inflammatory rheumatic diseases patients during the SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 pandemic. These preliminary recommendations are based on an expert consensus from 17 experienced German rheumatologists.

The world has been turned upside down in the last 6 weeks. Medicine and rheumatology have certainly changed – a frightening experience for Chicken Little, a disaster for the pessimist, a challenge for the pragmatist and an opportunity for the optimists amongst us. Last week I asked our audience to tell me their “upside or downside of COVID-19”. Read on to see how your peers have operating or thinking.

Pediatricians are asking the question - could this be a rare manifestation of COVID-19 in children? There are now 3 case reports in the U.S of children infected with the coronavirus who have developed what looks like Kawasaki's diseaes.  Simimar reports have been seen in the UK, Italy and Spain.

In the last few days there have been encouraging "preliminary" reports that IL-6 inhibition by either tocilizumab or sarilumab may be efficacious in patients with severe coronavirus infections.