SARS-COV-2 can induce an alteration of the autoimmune profile


https://doi.org/10.4081/wpph.2020.9246
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Authors

  • Maria Cristina Sacchi
    csacchi@ospedale.al.it
    Settore di Autoimmunologia, Laboratorio Analisi, Azienda ospedaliera “SS.Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo”, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Stefania Tamiazzo Settore di Autoimmunologia, Laboratorio Analisi, Azienda ospedaliera “SS.Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo”, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Paolo Stobbione SSD Reumatologia, Azienda ospedaliera “SS.Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo”, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Ernesto Cristiano Lauritano Unità di Medicina Intensiva, Azienda ospedaliera “SS.Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo”, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Annalisa Roveta Infrastruttura Ricerca Formazione Innovazione, Azienda ospedaliera “SS.Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo”, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Roberto Guaschino Settore di Autoimmunologia, Laboratorio Analisi, Azienda ospedaliera “SS.Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo”, Alessandria, Italy.
  • Ramona Bonometti Unità di Medicina Intensiva, Azienda ospedaliera “SS.Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo”, Alessandria, Italy.

Objective: The study evaluated the autoimmune profile of COVID-19 positive hospitalised patients. Methods: 40 hospitalised patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 were given clinical chemistry and autoimmunity tests. Results: The 40 patients enrolled in our hospital had elevated levels of common inflammatory markers such as C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and ferritin. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration was also increased, confirming the key role of this interleukin during severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The most common autoimmunity tests were performed. A significant prevalence of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) and anti-Saccaromyces cerevisiae (ASCA IgA and IgG) was found. Patients showing a de novo autoantibody response were those with a worse disease prognosis. Conclusion: Our study shows that COVID-19 infection can trigger an autoimmune response and could induce the onset of autoimmune diseases. These data explain why drugs used to treat autoimmune diseases could also be useful in combating SARS-CoV-2 infection.