Y. Ostankova, A. N. Shchemelev, E. Serikova, E. V. Anufrieva, E. V. Zagalskaya, A. A. Knizhnikova, A. O. Norka, V. Rassokhin, N. A. Belyakov, Аreg A. Totolian
2026.1.14Problemy Osobo Opasnykh Infektsii
tlooto Summary
Assessment of blood-borne infection prevalence among COVID-19 survivors may be valuable for early identification of high-risk patients developing post-COVID syndrome, and the need for larger-scale studies to clarify pathogenic mechanisms of interaction between chronic viral infections and SARS-CoV-2 is emphasized.
Abstract
The aim of our study was to assess the prevalence of HIV and blood-borne viral hepatitis markers among individuals with post-COVID syndrome. Materials and methods . The study material consisted of blood plasma samples from 129 patients diagnosed with long COVID. The samples were tested for serological (ELISA with commercial kits, in case of Ag/Ab-HIV detection – Western blot) and molecular (PCR assay) markers. Results and discussion . Evaluation of overall marker prevalence revealed complex relationships between HIV infection, viral hepatitis, and the development of post-COVID syndrome in the cohort. Our data demonstrate that among HIV-positive patients receiving antiretroviral therapy – who constituted 6.97 % of the study cohort – mild forms of COVID-19 were predominant (55.56 % of cases). This finding aligns with the current understanding of the modulating effect that immunosuppression has on the cytokine storm in case of COVID-19. Furthermore, analysis of the results revealed a higher detection rate of HCV RNA (1.55 %) compared to the general population. This observation warrants further investigation into the potential role of HCV in the development of long COVID, particularly in light of data suggesting prolonged SARS-CoV-2 viremia in this patient category. Conversely, the low prevalence of HB markers (7.75 % anti-HBcore antibodies with no HBsAg-positive cases) did not confirm their association with post-COVID syndrome in our sample, despite literature suggesting increased long COVID risk against chronic hepatitis B. Assessment of blood-borne infection prevalence among COVID-19 survivors may be valuable for early identification of high-risk patients developing post-COVID syndrome. The results emphasize the need for larger-scale studies to clarify pathogenic mechanisms of interaction between chronic viral infections and SARS-CoV-2, as well as to develop personalized monitoring and management approaches for high-risk long COVID patients.
Citation format
OSTANKOVA, Y., et al. HIV and parenteral viral hepatitis in the co-morbidity structure of patients with post-covid syndrome. Problemy Osobo Opasnykh Infektsii, 2026: 104–109.