Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection in a Patient with Systemic Lupus Eritematosus (SLE)

Corona Virus Disease 2019 or called COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by infection from Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), COVID-19 is an extraordinary threat that has occurred globally since 2019. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been concern about the risk SARS-CoV-2 infection and complications in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, especially is SLE. Currently published studies regarding the risk of SLE patients to become infected with COVID-19 give mixed results. We report a case of a woman with a confirmed diagnosis of severe COVID-19 with a newly diagnosed SLE. The possibility of spreading COVID-19 infection in SLE patients is increased due to the overexpression of ACE-2 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Based on the data obtained, it is presumed that the recurrence of SLE will increase the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to increased oxidative stress and DNA demethylation of ACE-2.