Autoantibody development is associated with clinical severity of COVID-19: A cohort study

Viral infections, including respiratory diseases such as Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), are hypothesized to contribute to the onset of autoimmune disorders. Although elevated levels of autoantibodies have been observed following COVID-19, the role of specific autoantibodies linked to autoimmune diseases and their correlation with disease severity remains poorly defined. In this study, we used a comprehensive autoantibody panel to assess the autoantibody production across different cohorts of COVID-19 patients, categorized by disease severity. We also compared patients with severe COVID-19 to a control group with other severe, non-COVID-related diseases. Our findings indicate that the severity of COVID-19 corresponds to the overall production of specific autoantibodies, which are particularly associated with COVID-19. This association might predispose to an increased risk for the development of autoimmune conditions after a severe course of COVID-19.