Risks Associated with Etanercept and COVID-19
Enbrel or Etanercept if taken concomitantly with other
immunosuppressants like Methotrexate or corticosteroids, can cause
hospitalization or mortality through serious infections. It is
recommended that if serious infection or sepsis develops then Enbrel
should be discontinued [11]. Some of the infections reported are
associated with viral, bacterial and fungal infections. It can also
cause active tuberculosis or reactivation of latent tuberculosis. Fungal
infections like candidiasis, aspergillosis, coccidioidomycosis,
histoplasmosis\sout, etc. are associated with Enbrel. As per American
College of Rheumatology (ACR) and British Society of Rheumatology,
patients with ongoing treatment with Etanercept are considered high risk
for COVID-19. CDC guidelines should be followed to protect patients from
active infections. It is also recommended that patients should continue
their treatment plan unless there is evidence of active infection.
Moreover, stopping medication abruptly or altering treatment dose plan
is not recommended as it can exacerbate the disease [14].