Autoimmunity as the comet tail of COVID-19 pandemic

Core Tip

Core tip: The immune system plays a central role in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), being responsible for clinical manifestations and prognosis. Hyper-activation of the immune response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 may result, in some cases, in development of unwanted autoimmune disorders. COVID-19 has been associated with immune-mediated systemic or organ-selective manifestations, some of which fulfill the diagnostic or classification criteria of specific autoimmune diseases. Though it is still unknown whether these medical conditions represent transitory post-infectious epiphenomena, the use of therapeutic agents targeting the immune system may perhaps prevent their chronicization which leads to development of autoimmune diseases.