COVID-19 and Autoimmunity in Dermatology: A Moroccan Case Series and Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction: Since the beginning of the pandemic, many skin manifestations associated with COVID-19 have been reported. New reports show that COVID-19 can lead to autoimmune diseases (AIDs) and autoinflammatory diseases, especially dermatological. Methods: A prospective study was conducted by the dermatology department of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Ibn Rochd (CHU Ibn Rochd) of Casablanca in Morocco since the beginning of the pandemic including 18 patients with COVID-19-related skin manifestations. Results: Eighteen cases were collected with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The mean COVID score was 0.7. A percentage (94.44%) of the cases had general symptoms. Skin involvement was variable, mainly maculopapular rash (44.44%), purpura (27.77%), urticaria, varicelliform rash, necrotic lesions of the face, and pityriasis rosea Gibert (PRG)-like lesions. Mucosal involvement was found in 50%. Viral reactivation was found in 5.55%. Telogen effluvium was found in 22.22%. Moreover, AID was triggered by COVID-19: lupus (11.11%), associated with antiphospholipid syndrome (APL Sd) (5.55%), psoriasis (11.11%), alopecia, and pemphigus. Severe toxidermia was potentiated by SARS-CoV-2 infection (22.22%): Stevens-Johnson syndrome (Sd), acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (APEG), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). Conclusion: The interest of this work is to report our experience during the COVID-19 pandemic to understand some pathophysiological mechanisms of its dermatological manifestations and to draw the attention of clinicians to the link of this infection with autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases and toxidermia.