Before we get into understanding the possible links between autoimmunity and COVID-19, it is imperative that we understand what autoantibodies are and how they affect our body. 

These self-attacking antibodies are produced by the immune system and are pathogenic in nature  as they can destroy the antigens and other substances such as carbohydrate,proteins, etc. made by the body itself.  In simple words, they function exactly opposite to what normal antibodies produced by the B-lymphocytes in our body do. Such antibodies are developed due to the immune system’s inability to identify its own antigens from the foreign ones. In most cases, these are also a cause of auto-immune disorders. 

Here’s our first article on autoimmunity : WHY IS OUR IMMUNE SYSTEM ATTACKING US?

Studies have shown that people who develop autoantibodies are likely to be more susceptible to facing adverse effects of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and even other infectious diseases. It has been observed that several patients with severe Covid-19 have had these autoantibodies present in their system. There was no history of auto-immune disorders in these patients. This information itself could help answer many speculations that have been doing the rounds ever since the global outbreak of the disease happened. 

Some people are more affected by the infection than others. Some take less recovery time where as in some individuals other complications arise long after the recovery, whether it is induced by COVID-19 directly or not can’t be said. In severe cases of the infection, many people suffered from serious lung damage that kept on worsening while in others it wasn’t able to spread further. We can try and understand some of these things with the help of autoimmunity that is if instead of defending the body against infections, the immune system starts to target it, then what are the possible implications it can lead to in regard to this infection. 

Some studies have suggested that in infected individuals autoantibodies were observed against the proteins present in the heart, brain and even the blood vessels which were also linked to the symptoms of COVID-19 infection. However, if the process of autoantibodies production has already began, an infection like this can cause a lot of complications and longterm damage to the body.

It is quite unclear to say whether the opposite could also be possible. If autoimmunity can also be completely triggered by the SARS-CoV-2 infection or if they were already generating leading to an autoimmune disorder is something that requires further research to draw concrete conclusions. Although this may help in understanding why in some individuals, even after the virus is being cleared from the body, their health kept deteriorating. If these autoantibodies starts to produce as a result of the infection then it can be the actual reason behind the damage that happens in several organs much after the symptoms were seen in an individual. If this is to be believed, it can also be the cause behind the longevity of COVID-19 in many patients.