Manuela Maria Giallanza - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Uploads

Papers by Manuela Maria Giallanza

Research paper thumbnail of Efficacy of cyclophosphamide in treating connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung diseases

Drugs in context, Jan 15, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of The effect of drugs used in rheumatology for treating SARS-CoV2 infection

Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy, Sep 18, 2020

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that was first isolated from a group of patients ... more Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that was first isolated from a group of patients hospitalized with pneumonia in China at the end of 2019, and, in February 2020, the syndrome it caused was named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization. In the absence of specific antiviral treatments capable of neutralizing the etiological agent, one therapeutic approach is to control the cytokine storm responsible for the most severe forms of the disease. The characteristic cytokine profile of severely affected patients is increased levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Areas covered: This article discusses the pathogenesis of COVID-19 as a rationale for using the biological and targeted synthetic drugs used in rheumatology (anti-TNF, anti-IL-1 and anti-IL-6 agents and baricitinib) to treat the disease, and provides key information concerning their potential benefits and adverse effects. Expert opinion: Interleukin inhibition seems to be a promising means of treating COVID-19 patients when respiratory function declines (or even earlier) if there are laboratory data indicating the presence of a cytokine storm because the interleukins are key drivers of inflammation. However, it is important to consider the risks and benefits of biological agents carefully, and critically analyze the evidence concerning their use in COVID-19 patients.

Research paper thumbnail of Microorganisms in Pathogenesis and Management of Behçet Disease (BD)

Research paper thumbnail of Toxicological considerations in the treatment of axial spondylo-arthritis

Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology, 2020

Introduction: The first-line treatment of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is with non-steroidal ant... more Introduction: The first-line treatment of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and is followed by tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors (the main treatment for patients not responding to NSAIDs) or drugs targetting the IL-23/IL-17 pathway. The efficacy of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate and sulfasalazine (SSZ) has not been demonstrated, although SSZ can be considered in patients with concomitant peripheral arthritis. Areas covered: This review describes the beneficial and toxicological effects of the drugs used to treat axial SpA. Expert commentary: Growing concerns about the safety of anti-TNF drugs underline the need to ensure that all clinicians are capable of taking appropriate preventive action and adequately treating affected patients.

Research paper thumbnail of One year in review 2021: fibromyalgia

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome of unknown aetiology characterised by chronic pain, fatigue, and ... more Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome of unknown aetiology characterised by chronic pain, fatigue, and disturbed sleep. This review presents and summarises the 2020 literature on FM by retrieving all articles indexed in PubMed between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020. The attention of the scientific community towards FM is constantly growing, and this year's review is focused on the diagnostic, pathogenetic and therapeutic aspects of this syndrome. In particular, the treatment options for FM, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, have been extensively studied.

Research paper thumbnail of The Rheumatology Drugs for COVID-19 Management: Which and When?

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Introduction: While waiting for the development of specific antiviral therapies and vaccines to e... more Introduction: While waiting for the development of specific antiviral therapies and vaccines to effectively neutralize the SARS-CoV2, a relevant therapeutic strategy is to counteract the hyperinflammatory status, characterized by an increase mainly of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which hallmarks the most severe clinical cases. ‘Repurposing’ immunomodulatory drugs and applying clinical management approved for rheumatic diseases represents a game-changer option. In this article, we will review the drugs that have indication in patients with COVID-19, including corticosteroids, antimalarials, anti-TNF, anti-IL-1, anti-IL-6, baricitinib, intravenous immunoglobulins, and colchicine. The PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for English-language papers concerning COVID-19 treatment published between January 2020 and October 2020. Results were summarized as a narrative review due to large heterogeneity among studies...

Research paper thumbnail of Efficacy of cyclophosphamide in treating connective tissue disease-related interstitial lung diseases

Drugs in context, Jan 15, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of The effect of drugs used in rheumatology for treating SARS-CoV2 infection

Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy, Sep 18, 2020

Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that was first isolated from a group of patients ... more Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 is a novel coronavirus that was first isolated from a group of patients hospitalized with pneumonia in China at the end of 2019, and, in February 2020, the syndrome it caused was named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by the World Health Organization. In the absence of specific antiviral treatments capable of neutralizing the etiological agent, one therapeutic approach is to control the cytokine storm responsible for the most severe forms of the disease. The characteristic cytokine profile of severely affected patients is increased levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Areas covered: This article discusses the pathogenesis of COVID-19 as a rationale for using the biological and targeted synthetic drugs used in rheumatology (anti-TNF, anti-IL-1 and anti-IL-6 agents and baricitinib) to treat the disease, and provides key information concerning their potential benefits and adverse effects. Expert opinion: Interleukin inhibition seems to be a promising means of treating COVID-19 patients when respiratory function declines (or even earlier) if there are laboratory data indicating the presence of a cytokine storm because the interleukins are key drivers of inflammation. However, it is important to consider the risks and benefits of biological agents carefully, and critically analyze the evidence concerning their use in COVID-19 patients.

Research paper thumbnail of Microorganisms in Pathogenesis and Management of Behçet Disease (BD)

Research paper thumbnail of Toxicological considerations in the treatment of axial spondylo-arthritis

Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology, 2020

Introduction: The first-line treatment of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is with non-steroidal ant... more Introduction: The first-line treatment of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) is with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and is followed by tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors (the main treatment for patients not responding to NSAIDs) or drugs targetting the IL-23/IL-17 pathway. The efficacy of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate and sulfasalazine (SSZ) has not been demonstrated, although SSZ can be considered in patients with concomitant peripheral arthritis. Areas covered: This review describes the beneficial and toxicological effects of the drugs used to treat axial SpA. Expert commentary: Growing concerns about the safety of anti-TNF drugs underline the need to ensure that all clinicians are capable of taking appropriate preventive action and adequately treating affected patients.

Research paper thumbnail of One year in review 2021: fibromyalgia

Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome of unknown aetiology characterised by chronic pain, fatigue, and ... more Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome of unknown aetiology characterised by chronic pain, fatigue, and disturbed sleep. This review presents and summarises the 2020 literature on FM by retrieving all articles indexed in PubMed between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020. The attention of the scientific community towards FM is constantly growing, and this year's review is focused on the diagnostic, pathogenetic and therapeutic aspects of this syndrome. In particular, the treatment options for FM, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, have been extensively studied.

Research paper thumbnail of The Rheumatology Drugs for COVID-19 Management: Which and When?

Journal of Clinical Medicine

Introduction: While waiting for the development of specific antiviral therapies and vaccines to e... more Introduction: While waiting for the development of specific antiviral therapies and vaccines to effectively neutralize the SARS-CoV2, a relevant therapeutic strategy is to counteract the hyperinflammatory status, characterized by an increase mainly of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, which hallmarks the most severe clinical cases. ‘Repurposing’ immunomodulatory drugs and applying clinical management approved for rheumatic diseases represents a game-changer option. In this article, we will review the drugs that have indication in patients with COVID-19, including corticosteroids, antimalarials, anti-TNF, anti-IL-1, anti-IL-6, baricitinib, intravenous immunoglobulins, and colchicine. The PubMed, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for English-language papers concerning COVID-19 treatment published between January 2020 and October 2020. Results were summarized as a narrative review due to large heterogeneity among studies...