How COVID-19 Affects Your Immune Health — Rheumatology101 with Dr. Isabelle Amigues

Can a COVID-19 infection flip a hidden switch in your immune system—triggering arthritis or other autoimmune conditions? Dr. Isabelle Amigues explains what she’s seeing in clinic, the science behind post-infection immune shifts, and why treatment and vaccination choices must be tailored to you.What You’ll Learn:From infection to inflammation: Real cases of new-onset inflammatory arthritis (rheumatoid, psoriatic) and PMR emerging soon after COVID-19—and how clinicians decide if it’s causation or coincidence.The “two-hit” model: Genetics and risk factors (family history, smoking, stress, adiposity) can lie dormant until an infection like COVID-19 triggers overt autoimmunity.Immune overdrive & treatment overlap: Why severe COVID-19 sometimes responds to steroid/IL-6/TNF-blocking therapies—tools also used for autoimmune disease—plus what that tells us about shared pathways.Treat what’s in front of you: If your labs/exam meet criteria for RA/PMR/vasculitis/lupus, treat per standard rheumatology care—regardless of whether COVID was the spark.Post-COVID (long COVID) nuance: Dysautonomia, fatigue, exercise intolerance often require team-based care (coaching, nutrition, PT, psychotherapy) to rebalance sympathetic/parasympathetic systems.Vaccination decisions: Not one-size-fits-all. Context matters—prior reactions, exposure risk, location, and current therapies (e.g., IVIG may already provide community antibodies)—so decide with your rheumatologist.Science evolves, partnership endures: Cutting through misinformation with clear, individualized education and a strong patient-physician relationship.What’s next: Details on Dr. Amigues’ upcoming holistic inflammation webinar and group coaching designed to speed remission and build resilience.If an infection can nudge a predisposed immune system into autoimmunity, which lever will you pull this week to lower baseline inflammation—sleep, stress care, movement, nutrition, or community support?