Chilblains observed during the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be distinguished from classic, cold-related chilblains
(2022) European Journal of Dermatology — Vol. 32, n° 3, p. 377-383 (2022)
Files
ChilblainsobservedduringtheCOVID-19pandemiccannotbedistinguishedfromclassiccold-relatedchilblains.pdf
Open Access - Adobe PDF
- 374.67 KB
Details
- Authors
- Abstract
- (en) BACKGROUND: Type 1 interferon (IFN-I) response induced by SARS-CoV-2 has been hypothesized to explain the association between chilblain lesions (CL) and SARS-CoV-2 infection. OBJECTIVE: To explore direct cytopathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 in CL and to focus on IFN-I expression in patients with chilblains. MATERIALS & METHODS: A monocentric cohort of 43 patients presenting with CL from April 2020 to May 2021 were included. During this period, all CL were, a priori, considered to be SARS-CoV-2-related. RT-qPCR on nasopharyngeal swabs and measurements of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were performed. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunostainings as well as SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR were performed on biopsy specimens of CL and controls. Expression of MX1 and IRF7 was analysed on patients’ biopsy specimens and/or PBMC and compared with controls and/or chilblains observed before the pandemic. Serum IFN-α was also measured. RESULTS: RT-qPCR was negative in all patients and serological tests were positive in 11 patients. Immunostaining targeting viral proteins confirmed the lack of specificity. SARS-CoV-2 RNA remained undetected in all CL specimens. MX1 immunostaining was positive in CL and in pre-pandemic chilblains compared to controls. MX1 and IRF7 expression was significantly increased in CL specimens but not in PBMC. Serum IFN-α was undetected in CL patients. CONCLUSION: CL observed during the pandemic do not appear to be directly related to SARS-CoV-2 infection, either based on viral cytopathogenicity or high IFN-I response induced by the virus.
- Affiliations
Citations
De Greef, A., Choteau, M., Herman, A., Bouzin, C., Marot, L., Dachelet, C., Lelotte, J., Hoton, D., Dumoutier, L., & Baeck, M. (2022). Chilblains observed during the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be distinguished from classic, cold-related chilblains. European Journal of Dermatology, 32(3), 377-383. https://doi.org/10.1684/ejd.2022.4260 (Original work published 2022)