Association between SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity and disease activity in children with systemic lupus erythematosus | ||
Microbes and Infectious Diseases | ||
Article 4, Volume 6, Issue 1, February 2025, Pages 32-45 PDF (332.98 K) | ||
Document Type: Original Article | ||
DOI: 10.21608/mid.2024.321382.2231 | ||
Authors | ||
Ekram Abdel-Rahman Mahmoud1; Elsayed Abdelkreem2; Ebtesam Fayez3; Eman Mohamed Fahmy2; Nesma Atef Mohamed Hassan* 1 | ||
1Medical microbiology & immunology department, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Egypt | ||
2Pediatrics department, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Egypt | ||
3Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation department, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Egypt | ||
Abstract | ||
Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a long-lasting autoimmune disease with its involvement in several organs and varying levels of severity. Pediatric SLE is an uncommon condition, accounting for 10-20% of all SLE cases. Individuals with systemic autoimmune illness have a higher prevalence of severe forms of COVID-19. However, the underlying cause for the heightened severity of COVID-19 in these patients is unclear. Objectives: The aim of the current study was to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children with SLE and the association between SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity and SLE disease activity. Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled 42 children with SLE diagnosed and followed-up with seropositive IgG for COVID-19 infection. Detection of antibodies was done by ELISA. Results: Forty-two children with SLE diagnosed and followed-up with seropositive IgG for COVID-19 infection and our study focused on 40 children with seropositive IgG. Regarding assessment of COVID-19 symptoms, 14 cases (35%) were symptomatic, and 26 cases (65%) were asymptomatic. There is significant difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic cases according to socio-demographic, laboratory investigation e.g. CRP, albumin level, Anti-dsDNA, Antinuclear antibody, C3, C4 and also score of the Physician Global Assessment (PGA) before COVID-19 infection and SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) before and after COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, Ig G level of COVID-19 was significantly associated with increased scores of either SELDAI or PGA when compared before and after infection. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 infection may predispose to SLE exacerbation and worsen disease activity that was found through increase of score of PGA and SELDAI after COVID-19 infection. | ||
Keywords | ||
SLE; SARS-CoV-2; PGA; SLEDAI | ||
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