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Athanassiou, L., Kostoglou-Athanassiou, I., Kaiafa, G., Savopoulos, C., Athanassiou, P., & Shoenfeld, Y. COVID-19 and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Journal of Mosaic of Autoimmunity. 2025. doi: Retrieved from https://www.sciltp.com/journals/jmai/article/view/689
Volume 1, Issue 1, 2025
Copyright (c) 2025 by the authors.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Communication

COVID-19 and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Lambros Athanassiou 1, Ifigenia Kostoglou-Athanassiou 2,*, Georgia Kaiafa 3, Christos Savopoulos 3, Panagiotis Athanassiou 4 and Yehuda Shoenfeld 5

1 Department of Rheumatology, Asclepeion Hospital, Voula 16673, Greece

2 Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Asclepeion Hospital, Voula 16673, Greece

3 First Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, AHEPA University General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki 54636, Greece

4 Department of Rheumatology, St. Paul’s Hospital, Thessaloniki 55134, Greece

5 Reichman University, Recanati Medical School, Herzliya 4610101, Israel

* Correspondence: ikostoglouathanassiou@yahoo.gr; Tel.: +30-6945570570

Received: 2 January 2025; Revised: 17 February 2025; Accepted: 27 February 2025; Published: 3 March 2025

Abstract: Viruses may be involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In particular, the viral etiology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been discussed and extensively investigated. Epstein Barr virus may be implicated in the pathogenesis of SLE. The SARS-CoV-2 virus has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. The COVID-19 infection has been associated with the development of subacute thyroiditis, diabetes mellitus type 1, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis and SLE.  The case of a female patient is described who developed fatigue, arthralgias, edema, joint pain and a generalized skin rash following a mild COVID-19 infection. Laboratory investigations were compatible with SLE.  In conclusion, the case of a patient is described who developed SLE after a mild COVID-19 infection.  This case shows that the SARS-CoV-2 virus may cause autoimmunity and that viruses may be implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune diseases.

Keywords:

SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 systemic lupus erythematosus autoimmunity

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