Scientists have proven the link between COVID-19 and the development of autoimmune diseases

Chinese scientists have identified a link between the transferred coronavirus and the subsequent development of autoimmune diseases – conditions in which the human immune system attacks healthy tissues of the body. They argue that those who have recovered from COVID-19 have an increased risk of developing autoimmune arthritis, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, and vasculitis. At the same time, the study showed that the introduction of two doses of the coronavirus vaccine significantly reduced the risk of developing autoimmune reactions. Meanwhile, in Russia, an increase in the incidence of coronavirus begins – doctors attribute this to seasonal cooling.

In an article published in the scientific journal The Lancet, the authors indicate the purpose of their work – before them, no scientific study has evaluated the impact of a COVID-19 vaccine on the risks of developing autoimmune diseases. Therefore, from April 1, 2020 to November 15, 2022, Chinese scientists analyzed the medical records of 1,028,721 Hong Kong residents with COVID-19 and 3,168,467 people without it. Researchers found that in coronavirus, the risk of atopic dermatitis, pernicious anemia, spondyl arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, other autoimmune arthritis, psoriasis, pemphigoid, Graves disease (autoimmune thyroid pathology), antiphospholipid antibodies, immuno -mediated thrombosi, immuno -medium -medium -media. stamping, multiple sclerosis and vasculitis in compared with patients with similar baseline characteristics without COVID-19.

Scientists note that the risk of developing atopic dermatitis was highest among the older age group (from 65 years). Among the age group of 41–64 years, there was a high probability of developing spondyloarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and multiple sclerosis. Graves’ disease posed an increased risk only in the 18–40 age group.

However, the study found that two doses of the coronavirus vaccine significantly reduced the risk of developing pemphigoid, toxic goiter, antiphospholipid syndrome, immune-mediated platelet depletion, and autoimmune arthritis.

Researchers have tried to understand how COVID-19 triggers autoimmune diseases before. Thus, in the summer of 2021, staff at the University of Birmingham (UK) studied the frequency and specificity of clinically significant autoantibodies in the blood serum of 84 people previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 and suffering from COVID-19 of varying severity, and compared the data with the results of 32 people who did not were infected. In patients of the first group, autoantibodies (immune globulins that are directed to their own cells and tissues of the human body) were much more common. Moreover, depending on the severity of the course of the disease, they remained in the body even five months after infection with COVID-19. And the longer the autoantibodies were present in the blood, the higher the risk of triggering autoimmune diseases. Most often, these complications could be multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, and diabetes.

Tatyana Kogut, an infectious disease specialist at the Doctis telemedicine service, notes that the conversation about a possible relationship between the transferred COVID-19 and autoimmune diseases has been going on since the first year of the pandemic – even then the first publications on this topic appeared. “Everything was considered within the framework of the post-COVID syndrome, and in general, not a single virus in the history of infectious diseases has been under such scrutiny,” says Ms. Kogut. Now, she says, research is focused on confirming that link.

The expert notes that no one has previously tried to assess the impact of influenza or other respiratory viruses on the development of autoimmune processes or other diseases: “Such studies have simply not been conducted. Viruses are always considered as probable triggers, but not as the main causal factors. Because for the implementation of autoimmune processes, a lot of components are needed – a genetic predisposition, epigenetic influences, including a past infection.

Therefore, the problem is wider than the possible impact of only COVID-19, says Tatyana Kogut. Scientists blame post-COVID syndrome for causing prolonged episodes of fever, weakness, muscle pain and other symptoms. “But there is also a version that not only the coronavirus itself can cause these symptoms. After COVID-19, persistent herpes group viruses become active, which cause these manifestations,” continues Ms. Kohut. “And the fact that these viruses are related to the development of autoimmune conditions has been known for a long time. Therefore, the relationship between pathogens can be much more complicated than it seems at first glance. And the coronavirus does not act as a trigger for the manifestation of autoimmune symptoms, but as a trigger for other pathogens that may also be involved in this.

In Russia, meanwhile, the number of cases of COVID-19 infection is rising again. According to the infection control headquarters, the incidence rate from August 14 to 20 increased by 16.1% compared to the previous week. Between August 7 and 13, a 1.9% increase in incidence was reported. From August 14 to 20, 1 thousand people were hospitalized, which is 3.1% more than a week earlier. Rospotrebnadzor explains the increase in the incidence of coronavirus by seasonality and the approach of autumn cold weather.

Natalia Kostarnova