Serositis and lymphopenia are common features of systemic lupus erythematosus following SARS-CoV-2 infection: A case report and literature review

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can affect a number of human systems, including the respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems. These symptoms persist long after the acute infection has healed and is called “long COVID”. Interestingly, there have been a series of reports that SARS-CoV-2 infections trigger the development of various autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), inflammatory arthritis, myositis, vasculitis. Here, we report a novel case of SLE characterized by persistent pleural effusion and lymphopenia following SARS-CoV-2 infection. This is the first case in the Western Pacific region to our knowledge. Furthermore, we reviewed 10 similar cases including our case. By looking at the characteristics of each case, we found that serositis and lymphopenia are common features of SLE following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our finding suggests that patients with prolonged pleural effusion and/or lymphopenia after COVID-19 should be checked for autoantibodies.