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La Rivista Italiana della Medicina di Laboratorio 2021 Giugno;17(2):92-8
DOI: 10.23736/S1825-859X.21.00104-3
Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA
language: Italian
Autoimmunity and COVID-19
Maria INFANTINO 1 ✉, Maurizio BENUCCI 2, Mariangela MANFREDI 1
1 Laboratorio Immunologia e Allergologia, Ospedale S. Giovanni di Dio, Firenze, Italia; 2 Reumatologia, Ospedale S. Giovanni di Dio, Firenze, Italia
The immune system plays a pivotal role in COVID-19 infection, being responsible for the clinical manifestations and prognosis of the disease. Hyperactivation of the immune response against SARS-CoV-2 virus may result, in some cases, in the development of autoimmune disorders. In fact, a robust immune response is involved in the pathogenesis of both disease conditions. The molecular mimicry, the presence of circulating autoantibodies and the overlapping of autoimmune diseases in some patients show the potential trigger effect of SARS-CoV-2 virus on human immunity in developing autoimmune disorders. A variety of systemic or organ-specific manifestations have been reported to be associated with COVID-19, particularly: antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, Kawasaki Syndrome, Guillain-Barrè Syndrome, Miller Fisher Syndrome, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia. However, the existing evidence, which differs according to the specific disease, is poor mainly because it is based on case reports and case series without a long-term follow-up. Since it is still unknown whether these autoimmune conditions may represent a transient phenomenon post-infection, more data are needed to thoroughly understand the relationship between COVID-19 and autoimmunity.
KEY WORDS: Autoimmunity; COVID-19; Pandemics