COVID-19 infection may trigger SLE disease: a case report

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect various organs of the body especially the skin, joints, hematopoietic system, kidneys and central nervous system. The signs and symptoms occur depending on the inflammation in the affected tissues. Although many factors are responsible in its aetiology, it is known that some viruses such as Epstein Bar may also cause this disease by triggering autoimmunity. Recent studies have revealed that immune system could be activated due to coronavirus infections and that some autoantibodies could be seen in blood. A small number of SLE cases activated by COVID infection have been reported in the literature. In the present study, a 20-year-old patient with COVID infection, who was diagnosed with SLE with renal involvement according to EULAR/ACR 2019 criteria by considering histopathological and immunofluorescence findings, is presented and discussed with the information in the literature.

Keywords

• Lupus Erythematosus, systemic
• COVID-19
• Antibodies
• Autoimmune Diseases

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