Low Prevalence of Interferon α Autoantibodies in People Experiencing Symptoms of Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Conditions, or Long COVID.

Peluso, Michael J; Mitchell, Anthea; Wang, Chung Yu; Takahashi, Saki; Hoh, Rebecca; Tai, Viva; Durstenfeld, Matthew S; Hsue, Priscilla Y et al. · J Infect Dis · 2023

cross_sectional · Level IV

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Abstract

Interferon (IFN)-specific autoantibodies have been implicated in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and have been proposed as a potential driver of the persistent symptoms characterizing "long COVID," a type of postacute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We report that only 2 of 215 participants with convalescent SARS-CoV-2 infection tested over 394 time points, including 121 people experiencing long COVID symptoms, had detectable IFN-α2 antibodies. Both had been hospitalized during the acute phase of the infection. These data suggest that persistent anti-IFN antibodies, although a potential driver of severe COVID-19, are unlikely to contribute to long COVID symptoms in the postacute phase of the infection.

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