Antiphospholipid antibodies during acute COVID-19 are not associated with long COVID: findings from a retrospective cohort study

IntroductionLong COVID is a public health issue with complex pathophysiology, potentially involving immunoinflammatory and prothrombotic mechanisms. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) have been observed in acute COVID-19 and speculated to contribute to long COVID development. Our goal was to determin...

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Main Authors: Robin Arcani, Alexandre Brodovitch, Xavier Heim, Jean-Louis Mège, Nathalie Bardin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1634663/full
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author Robin Arcani
Robin Arcani
Alexandre Brodovitch
Xavier Heim
Xavier Heim
Jean-Louis Mège
Jean-Louis Mège
Nathalie Bardin
Nathalie Bardin
author_facet Robin Arcani
Robin Arcani
Alexandre Brodovitch
Xavier Heim
Xavier Heim
Jean-Louis Mège
Jean-Louis Mège
Nathalie Bardin
Nathalie Bardin
author_sort Robin Arcani
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionLong COVID is a public health issue with complex pathophysiology, potentially involving immunoinflammatory and prothrombotic mechanisms. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) have been observed in acute COVID-19 and speculated to contribute to long COVID development. Our goal was to determine if the presence of aPL was associated with the progression towards long COVID.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed all adult patients screened for aPL during acute COVID-19 in our institution between April 2020 and April 2022. Only patients with at least one follow-up ≥3 months post-infection were included.ResultsAmong 114 patients (median age 64.0 years, 44.7% female), 19 (16.7%) developed long COVID. Those with long COVID were younger and more frequently admitted to ICU than those who recovered. However, aPL positivity did not differ significantly between patients with and without long COVID (63.2% vs. 66.3%, p = 0.79).ConclusionOur findings suggest no association between aPL and the development of long COVID. Prior associations may reflect confounding factors such as ICU admission.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-f5c0b9cfcc624f6cb6fb134ed86a2bdb2025-08-20T02:56:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-08-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16346631634663Antiphospholipid antibodies during acute COVID-19 are not associated with long COVID: findings from a retrospective cohort studyRobin Arcani0Robin Arcani1Alexandre Brodovitch2Xavier Heim3Xavier Heim4Jean-Louis Mège5Jean-Louis Mège6Nathalie Bardin7Nathalie Bardin8Internal Medicine and Therapeutics department, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire (CHU) La Timone, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Marseille, FranceCenter for Cardiovascular and Nutrition research (C2VN), Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture et l'alimentation (INRA) 1260, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) UMR_S 1263, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, FranceService d’Immunologie, Pôle de Biologie, Biogénopole, Hôpital de la Timone, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Marseille, FranceCenter for Cardiovascular and Nutrition research (C2VN), Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture et l'alimentation (INRA) 1260, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) UMR_S 1263, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, FranceService d’Immunologie, Pôle de Biologie, Biogénopole, Hôpital de la Timone, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Marseille, FranceService d’Immunologie, Pôle de Biologie, Biogénopole, Hôpital de la Timone, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Marseille, FranceAix-Marseille Université, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Microbes, Evolution, Phylogénie et Infection (MEPHI), Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU)-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, FranceCenter for Cardiovascular and Nutrition research (C2VN), Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture et l'alimentation (INRA) 1260, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) UMR_S 1263, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, FranceService d’Immunologie, Pôle de Biologie, Biogénopole, Hôpital de la Timone, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Marseille, FranceIntroductionLong COVID is a public health issue with complex pathophysiology, potentially involving immunoinflammatory and prothrombotic mechanisms. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) have been observed in acute COVID-19 and speculated to contribute to long COVID development. Our goal was to determine if the presence of aPL was associated with the progression towards long COVID.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed all adult patients screened for aPL during acute COVID-19 in our institution between April 2020 and April 2022. Only patients with at least one follow-up ≥3 months post-infection were included.ResultsAmong 114 patients (median age 64.0 years, 44.7% female), 19 (16.7%) developed long COVID. Those with long COVID were younger and more frequently admitted to ICU than those who recovered. However, aPL positivity did not differ significantly between patients with and without long COVID (63.2% vs. 66.3%, p = 0.79).ConclusionOur findings suggest no association between aPL and the development of long COVID. Prior associations may reflect confounding factors such as ICU admission.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1634663/fullantiphospholipid antibodiespathophysiologyautoimmunitylong covidthrombosis
spellingShingle Robin Arcani
Robin Arcani
Alexandre Brodovitch
Xavier Heim
Xavier Heim
Jean-Louis Mège
Jean-Louis Mège
Nathalie Bardin
Nathalie Bardin
Antiphospholipid antibodies during acute COVID-19 are not associated with long COVID: findings from a retrospective cohort study
Frontiers in Immunology
antiphospholipid antibodies
pathophysiology
autoimmunity
long covid
thrombosis
title Antiphospholipid antibodies during acute COVID-19 are not associated with long COVID: findings from a retrospective cohort study
title_full Antiphospholipid antibodies during acute COVID-19 are not associated with long COVID: findings from a retrospective cohort study
title_fullStr Antiphospholipid antibodies during acute COVID-19 are not associated with long COVID: findings from a retrospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Antiphospholipid antibodies during acute COVID-19 are not associated with long COVID: findings from a retrospective cohort study
title_short Antiphospholipid antibodies during acute COVID-19 are not associated with long COVID: findings from a retrospective cohort study
title_sort antiphospholipid antibodies during acute covid 19 are not associated with long covid findings from a retrospective cohort study
topic antiphospholipid antibodies
pathophysiology
autoimmunity
long covid
thrombosis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1634663/full
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