Abstract Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an acute respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), is emerging as a worldwide public health emergency. Several scientific contributions reported the potential relevance of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphism and susceptibility to viruses, such as SARS-CoV. In our study, we examined a population of coeliac subjects presenting the HLA haplotype DQ2 and/or DQ8. Our aim was to evaluate whether HLA DQ2 and/or DQ8 haplotype play a role in SARS-CoV-2-infection. The aim was also to evaluate the difficulty in following the gluten-free diet due to all the adversities produced by the pandemic, such as the food supply disruption, and the difficulties in managing the clinical follow-up. Methods 191 consecutive coeliac patients completed a questionnaire on their current clinical status, psychological effects, and management of the gluten-free diet experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and questions regarding possible SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results Out of the 191 patients who participated in the study, 42 were full-blown coeliac and 149 were in remission. From the answers provided, 84.8% of patients declared that they no longer consider themselves vulnerable to COVID-19 as they suffer from coeliac disease; 94.2% of patients did not encounter any difficulties in managing the gluten-free diet or in acquiring specific foods and 64.9% of patients in our study underwent diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2. Out of this number, 31.5% did so due to contacts with subjects affected by COVID-19, 26.6% for work related reasons, 11.3% due to flu-like symptoms and 30.6% for other reasons. Only 5.8% of the enrolled patients received a diagnosis of COVID-19. Out of all the patients in our population who were diagnosed with COVID-19, 94.8% developed no symptoms and none of them needed hospitalization or intensive care. Conclusion The hypothesis that the HLADQ2 and/or DQ8 haplotype plays a protective role against SARS-CoV-2 infection, as against other viral infections, is intriguingly suggestive. KEY MESSAGES COVID-19 as a public health emergency; SARS-CoV-2 and possible complications in coeliac disease; Role of HLA DQ2 and/or DQ8 in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Autoimmune disease, Human leukocyte antigen (HLA), coeliac disease, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, viruses, public health, pandemic, intensive care, Hospitalization, SARS-CoV, SARS-COV-2 infection, susceptibility, COVID-19 pandemic, polymorphism, diagnostic, viral infections, Novel coronavirus, Antigen, clinical status, management, Patient, Complication, Psychological, Follow-up, HLA, public health emergency, questionnaire, Haplotype, Hypothesis, Contact, acute respiratory disease, leukocyte, no symptom, subject, protective role, Effects, role, Result, enrolled, produced, affected, evaluate, examined, caused, reported, the patient, provided, question, presenting, diagnosed with COVID-19, diagnosis of COVID-19, flu-like symptom, HLA haplotype, participated, 【제목키워드】 HLA, Protective,