COVID-19 as a trigger for systemic diseases: a focus on systemic lupus erythematosus

Background. COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has profoundly impacted global health since its emergence. Beyond its acute respiratory symptoms, COVID-19 is recognized for its systemic effects, capable of impacting multiple organs and triggering a r...

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Main Authors: I.V. Shop, T.M. Tykhonova, O.V. Al-Trawneh, N.I. Imanova, V.S. Oliinyk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University: Series Medicine
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Online Access:https://ukrmedsci.com/index.php/visnyk/article/view/186
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author I.V. Shop
T.M. Tykhonova
O.V. Al-Trawneh
N.I. Imanova
V.S. Oliinyk
author_facet I.V. Shop
T.M. Tykhonova
O.V. Al-Trawneh
N.I. Imanova
V.S. Oliinyk
author_sort I.V. Shop
collection DOAJ
description Background. COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has profoundly impacted global health since its emergence. Beyond its acute respiratory symptoms, COVID-19 is recognized for its systemic effects, capable of impacting multiple organs and triggering a range of inflammatory and autoimmune responses. One area of growing concern is the potential of COVID-19 to induce or exacerbate systemic autoimmune-mediated diseases. Purpose – to analyze the clinical case of a patient diagnosed for the first time with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) following a COVID-19 infection. The study aims to investigate the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the immune system and explore possible challenges in diagnosis and management strategies to prevent or mitigate autoimmune complications in such patients. Materials and Methods. The case history of a 27-year-old woman is presented, including complaints of weakness, fever up to 39°C, joint pain, facial and lip swelling, petechial-papular rashes on the face (nasal wings, forehead, chin), and oral ulcers. Differential diagnosis was conducted, leading to the diagnosis of SLE. The course of the disease and associated complications were subsequently analyzed. Results and discussion. Challenges in diagnosing SLE and its development following COVID-19 infection are described. Conclusions. COVID-19 has demonstrated its ability to affect the body beyond the respiratory system. Its potential role in triggering autoimmune conditions such as SLE underscores the importance of understanding the connection between infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. The link between COVID-19 and the development or exacerbation of SLE highlights the need for heightened medical vigilance and tailored treatment strategies for vulnerable population groups.
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spelling doaj-art-433db31b6d414dea858dd3f9df7d50d12025-08-20T02:20:55ZengV. N. Karazin Kharkiv National UniversityJournal of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University: Series Medicine2313-66932313-23962025-04-01332(53)26927910.26565/2313-6693-2025-53-09COVID-19 as a trigger for systemic diseases: a focus on systemic lupus erythematosusI.V. Shop0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2027-3335T.M. Tykhonova1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9196-9113O.V. Al-Trawneh2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4049-6365N.I. Imanova3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3092-4138V.S. Oliinyk4https://orcid.org/0009-0005-8314-2710V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Kharkiv, UkraineV.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Kharkiv, UkraineV.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Kharkiv, UkraineKharkiv National Medical University of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, Kharkiv, UkraineMunicipal Non-Profit Enterprise «City Clinical Multidisciplinary Hospital No. 25» of the Kharkiv Regional Council, Kharkiv, UkraineBackground. COVID-19, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has profoundly impacted global health since its emergence. Beyond its acute respiratory symptoms, COVID-19 is recognized for its systemic effects, capable of impacting multiple organs and triggering a range of inflammatory and autoimmune responses. One area of growing concern is the potential of COVID-19 to induce or exacerbate systemic autoimmune-mediated diseases. Purpose – to analyze the clinical case of a patient diagnosed for the first time with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) following a COVID-19 infection. The study aims to investigate the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the immune system and explore possible challenges in diagnosis and management strategies to prevent or mitigate autoimmune complications in such patients. Materials and Methods. The case history of a 27-year-old woman is presented, including complaints of weakness, fever up to 39°C, joint pain, facial and lip swelling, petechial-papular rashes on the face (nasal wings, forehead, chin), and oral ulcers. Differential diagnosis was conducted, leading to the diagnosis of SLE. The course of the disease and associated complications were subsequently analyzed. Results and discussion. Challenges in diagnosing SLE and its development following COVID-19 infection are described. Conclusions. COVID-19 has demonstrated its ability to affect the body beyond the respiratory system. Its potential role in triggering autoimmune conditions such as SLE underscores the importance of understanding the connection between infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. The link between COVID-19 and the development or exacerbation of SLE highlights the need for heightened medical vigilance and tailored treatment strategies for vulnerable population groups.https://ukrmedsci.com/index.php/visnyk/article/view/186covid-19 systemic lupus erythematosus autoimmune inflammatory diseases immune dysregulation
spellingShingle I.V. Shop
T.M. Tykhonova
O.V. Al-Trawneh
N.I. Imanova
V.S. Oliinyk
COVID-19 as a trigger for systemic diseases: a focus on systemic lupus erythematosus
Journal of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University: Series Medicine
covid-19 systemic lupus erythematosus autoimmune inflammatory diseases immune dysregulation
title COVID-19 as a trigger for systemic diseases: a focus on systemic lupus erythematosus
title_full COVID-19 as a trigger for systemic diseases: a focus on systemic lupus erythematosus
title_fullStr COVID-19 as a trigger for systemic diseases: a focus on systemic lupus erythematosus
title_full_unstemmed COVID-19 as a trigger for systemic diseases: a focus on systemic lupus erythematosus
title_short COVID-19 as a trigger for systemic diseases: a focus on systemic lupus erythematosus
title_sort covid 19 as a trigger for systemic diseases a focus on systemic lupus erythematosus
topic covid-19 systemic lupus erythematosus autoimmune inflammatory diseases immune dysregulation
url https://ukrmedsci.com/index.php/visnyk/article/view/186
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AT ovaltrawneh covid19asatriggerforsystemicdiseasesafocusonsystemiclupuserythematosus
AT niimanova covid19asatriggerforsystemicdiseasesafocusonsystemiclupuserythematosus
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