A COVID-19 infection could trigger autoimmune or autoinflammatory disorders in people who did not previously have one, a new study suggests.
The meta-analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, included data collected from hundreds of thousands of patients during the height of the 2020 and 2021 COVID spikes. Its findings suggest that patients who had a bout of the respiratory virus are twice as likely to develop a slew of autoimmune conditions, such as alopecia totalis, psoriasis, vitiligo, vasculitis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis and more. These findings were even more pronounced in individuals who had a serious case of the virus.
In the paper, the authors offer two possible explanations for why this happens. First, they suggest that the virus triggers autoimmune reactions via cross-reactivity, which “may lead to the development of autoimmune diseases.”
Additionally, when the virus prompts a stronger immune response — as is the case in more serious infections — it could give rise to pre-existing autoimmune dysregulations that people were previously unaware of. In other words, it wakes a sleeping beast.
Autoimmune diseases cause the body’s immune system to attack its own healthy cells and tissues. Essentially, the immune system cannot tell the difference between its own healthy cells and foreign cells that transport infections. So when a virus like COVID is introduced, it sends the body’s immune system into overdrive, often causing rampant inflammation throughout.
Autoimmune conditions are accompanied by numerous side effects that range from skin and digestive issues to joint pain, hair loss, fatigue and more. Additionally, people with these disorders are also at an increased risk of getting sick.
They tend to fall ill more often than people without autoimmune diseases because of their body’s skewed reaction to infections. This is especially true for those who are prescribed medications that suppress their overactive immune system.
Notably, people included in the study who had been vaccinated against COVID, but still contracted the virus were not found to be more likely to develop an autoimmune disease. This, the authors suggest, is likely due to the protective effect of COVID vaccinations, which are intended to shield patients from contracting a serious case of the virus that could be capable of triggering a heightened immune response.
This theory contradicts many social media users’ claims that the COVID shot caused their autoimmune condition.
Rachel Carter is a health and wellness expert dedicated to helping readers lead healthier lives. With a background in nutrition, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being.
