IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i6p4918-d1093767.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A Case of Autoimmune Small Fiber Neuropathy as Possible Post COVID Sequelae

Author

Listed:
  • Noel G. Panagiotides

    (Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
    Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Fritz Zimprich

    (Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Klaus Machold

    (Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Oliver Schlager

    (Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Markus Müller

    (Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Sebastian Ertl

    (Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
    Division of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Wels-Grieskirchen, 4600 Wels-Grieskirchen, Austria)

  • Henriette Löffler-Stastka

    (Department of Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Renate Koppensteiner

    (Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

  • Patricia P. Wadowski

    (Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is reported to induce and augment autoimmune processes. Moreover, postinfectious effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are still poorly understood and often resemble symptoms of the acute infection phase. A patient with swollen extremities was presented to the Department of Angiology at the Medical University of Vienna with complaints of muscle and joint pain, paresthesia, and arterial hypertension with intense headache. Prior to these complaints, she had been suffering from various symptoms since November 2020, following a SARS-CoV-2 infection in the same month. These included recurrent sore throat, heartburn, dizziness, and headache. Paresthesia and muscle and joint pain started in temporal relation to a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination. Since the patient was suffering from severe pain, intensive pain management was performed. Skin and nerve biopsies revealed autoimmune small fiber neuropathy. The patient’s condition could be related to COVID-19, as her first symptoms began in temporal relation to the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, in the disease course, antinuclear (ANA) and anti-Ro antibodies, as well as anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies, could be detected. Together with the symptoms of xerophthalmia and pharyngeal dryness, primary Sjögren’s syndrome was diagnosed. In conclusion, though biopsy results could not distinguish a cause of the disease, SARS-CoV-2 infection can be discussed as a likely trigger for the patient’s autoimmune reactions.

Suggested Citation

  • Noel G. Panagiotides & Fritz Zimprich & Klaus Machold & Oliver Schlager & Markus Müller & Sebastian Ertl & Henriette Löffler-Stastka & Renate Koppensteiner & Patricia P. Wadowski, 2023. "A Case of Autoimmune Small Fiber Neuropathy as Possible Post COVID Sequelae," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-12, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:6:p:4918-:d:1093767
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/6/4918/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/6/4918/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sydney R. Stein & Sabrina C. Ramelli & Alison Grazioli & Joon-Yong Chung & Manmeet Singh & Claude Kwe Yinda & Clayton W. Winkler & Junfeng Sun & James M. Dickey & Kris Ylaya & Sung Hee Ko & Andrew P. , 2022. "SARS-CoV-2 infection and persistence in the human body and brain at autopsy," Nature, Nature, vol. 612(7941), pages 758-763, December.
    2. Felix Tretter & Henriette Löffler-Stastka, 2019. "The Human Ecological Perspective and Biopsychosocial Medicine," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-13, October.
    3. Patricia P. Wadowski & Aleksandra Piechota-Polańczyk & Martin Andreas & Christoph W. Kopp, 2022. "Cardiovascular Disease Management in the Context of Global Crisis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-9, December.
    4. Patricia P. Wadowski & Georgiana-Aura Giurgea & Oliver Schlager & Anton Luf & Thomas Gremmel & Eva-Luise Hobl & Sylvia Unterhumer & Henriette Löffler-Stastka & Renate Koppensteiner, 2019. "Acute Limb Ischemia after Intake of the Phenylethylamine Derivate NBOMe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-7, December.
    5. James J. Cox & Frank Reimann & Adeline K. Nicholas & Gemma Thornton & Emma Roberts & Kelly Springell & Gulshan Karbani & Hussain Jafri & Jovaria Mannan & Yasmin Raashid & Lihadh Al-Gazali & Henan Hama, 2006. "An SCN9A channelopathy causes congenital inability to experience pain," Nature, Nature, vol. 444(7121), pages 894-898, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Sung Hee Ko & Pierce Radecki & Frida Belinky & Jinal N. Bhiman & Susan Meiring & Jackie Kleynhans & Daniel Amoako & Vanessa Guerra Canedo & Margaret Lucas & Dikeledi Kekana & Neil Martinson & Limakats, 2024. "Rapid intra-host diversification and evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in advanced HIV infection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Qiurong Wu & Jian Huang & Xiao Fan & Kan Wang & Xueqin Jin & Gaoxingyu Huang & Jiaao Li & Xiaojing Pan & Nieng Yan, 2023. "Structural mapping of Nav1.7 antagonists," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. S. Jaumdally & M. Tomasicchio & A. Pooran & A. Esmail & A. Kotze & S. Meier & L. Wilson & S. Oelofse & C. Merwe & A. Roomaney & M. Davids & T. Suliman & R. Joseph & T. Perumal & A. Scott & M. Shaw & W, 2024. "Frequency, kinetics and determinants of viable SARS-CoV-2 in bioaerosols from ambulatory COVID-19 patients infected with the Beta, Delta or Omicron variants," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Maria Jones & Marit Råbu & Jan Ivar Røssberg & Randi Ulberg, 2020. "Therapists’ Experiences of Psychodynamic Therapy with and without Transference Interventions for Adolescents with Depression," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-18, June.
    5. Chiung-Wei Huang & Hsing-Jung Lai & Po-Yuan Huang & Ming-Jen Lee & Chung-Chin Kuo, 2016. "The Biophysical Basis Underlying Gating Changes in the p.V1316A Mutant Nav1.7 Channel and the Molecular Pathogenesis of Inherited Erythromelalgia," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(9), pages 1-31, September.
    6. Girolamo Di Maio & Ines Villano & Ciro Rosario Ilardi & Antonietta Messina & Vincenzo Monda & Ashlei Clara Iodice & Chiara Porro & Maria Antonietta Panaro & Sergio Chieffi & Giovanni Messina & Marcell, 2023. "Mechanisms of Transmission and Processing of Pain: A Narrative Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-19, February.
    7. Scott Lu & Michael J. Peluso & David V. Glidden & Michelle C. Davidson & Kara Lugtu & Jesus Pineda-Ramirez & Michel Tassetto & Miguel Garcia-Knight & Amethyst Zhang & Sarah A. Goldberg & Jessica Y. Ch, 2024. "Early biological markers of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    8. Suyeon Bae, 2023. "A Qualitative Study of Hospital Interior Environments during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-11, February.
    9. Al Ozonoff & Naresh Doni Jayavelu & Shanshan Liu & Esther Melamed & Carly E. Milliren & Jingjing Qi & Linda N. Geng & Grace A. McComsey & Charles B. Cairns & Lindsey R. Baden & Joanna Schaenman & Albe, 2024. "Features of acute COVID-19 associated with post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 phenotypes: results from the IMPACC study," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    10. Clovis S. Palmer & Chrysostomos Perdios & Mohamed Abdel-Mohsen & Joseph Mudd & Prasun K. Datta & Nicholas J. Maness & Gabrielle Lehmicke & Nadia Golden & Linh Hellmers & Carol Coyne & Kristyn Moore Gr, 2024. "Non-human primate model of long-COVID identifies immune associates of hyperglycemia," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.
    11. Alexandra Thajer & Margit Sommersguter-Reichmann & Henriette Löffler-Stastka, 2020. "Implementing a Clinical Research Department to Support Pediatric Studies: A SWOT Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-16, August.
    12. Tianbo Li & Gang Lu & Eugene Y Chiang & Tania Chernov-Rogan & Jane L Grogan & Jun Chen, 2017. "High-throughput electrophysiological assays for voltage gated ion channels using SyncroPatch 768PE," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(7), pages 1-18, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:6:p:4918-:d:1093767. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.