Berun A. Abdalla, Meer M. Abdulkarim, Shvan H. Mohammed, Rewas Ali Azeez, Talar Sabir Hameed, Nigar Hassan Mohammed, Rawezh Q. Salih, Dahat A. Hussein and 6 more
Introduction Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) surface glycoproteins, including shared epitope motifs, show similarities. This may lead to false-positive HIV results due to cross-reactivity between the two viruses. This study presents a systematic review…
The Hidden Problem of Cross-Reactivity: Challenges in HIV Testing During the COVID-19 Era: A Systematic Review
Berun A. Abdalla, Meer M. Abdulkarim, Shvan H. Mohammed, Rewas Ali Azeez, Talar Sabir Hameed, Nigar Hassan Mohammed, Rawezh Q. Salih, Dahat A. Hussein and 6 more
IntroductionHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) surface glycoproteins, including shared epitope motifs, show similarities. This may lead to false-positive HIV results due to cross-reactivity between the two viruses. This study presents a systematic review of the published studies on their cross-reactivity.
MethodsA systematic review of the published studies of HIV and SARS-CoV2 cross-reactivity was conducted, the studies that met the following criteria were included: 1) Studies in the English language. 2) Studies in which the title included the required keywords. 3) Studies in which false positive results were achieved and confirmed. 4) Studies investigating the possibility of cross-reactivity between HIV and SARS-CoV2.
ResultsA total of 11 studies and 466,140 patients were analyzed. Of the specified sexes, 363,786 (82.1%) of the participants were males. A total of 707 false-positive HIV results were recorded, of which 122 (17.3%) had detectable Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) antibodies. The remaining 585 (82.7%) false positives were either healthy patients or patients recovered from COVID-19 with no detectable COVID-19 antibodies. Twenty-five distinct tests were used as initial and confirmatory tests for both COVID-19 and HIV. Six (24%) unique fourth-generation HIV antigen/antibody combination tests, six (24%) HIV-specific molecular tests, and four (16%) HIV immunoassays were used.
ConclusionCOVID-19 should be considered a potential cause of false-positive results in HIV tests, due to the cross-reactivity between the antibodies or antigens from both viruses.
Huda M. Muhammad, Nahida HA. Ahmed, Gasha S. Ahmed, Fahmi H. Kakamad, Sabah J. Hasan, Berun A. Abdalla, Shvan H. Mohammed, Snur Othman and 4 more
Pregnant women represent a vulnerable population due to their altered immune response, potentially leading to increased susceptibility and severity of infections. The COVID-19 infection might increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in this population, however, to date, it has not been established whether…
Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (Maternal, Fetal, and Neonatal) in COVID-19: A Review
Huda M. Muhammad, Nahida HA. Ahmed, Gasha S. Ahmed, Fahmi H. Kakamad, Sabah J. Hasan, Berun A. Abdalla, Shvan H. Mohammed, Snur Othman and 4 more
Pregnant women represent a vulnerable population due to their altered immune response, potentially leading to increased susceptibility and severity of infections. The COVID-19 infection might increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in this population, however, to date, it has not been established whether SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to these outcomes as differing conclusions have been made by the published studies and reviews. This comprehensive review explores the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy outcomes, encompassing maternal, fetal, and neonatal health. The current literature reports higher rates of adverse maternal outcomes among pregnant women with COVID-19, this includes increased rates of cesarean section, preeclampsia, and elevated risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and maternal death. Fetal and neonatal outcomes are also influenced by COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. Findings suggest an elevated risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and Neonatal ICU admissions among newborns of mothers with COVID-19. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as the Delta variant, raises concerns about their potential impact on more adverse outcomes compared to the wild type. Vaccination has demonstrated safety and efficacy in pregnant women, providing a potential preventive measure against COVID-19. However, the potential impact of vaccination on adverse pregnancy outcomes requires further investigation. To address current knowledge gaps, future research should also focus on long-term effects, fertility considerations, child development, and the impact of emerging variants.
Bnar J. Hama Amin, Dana H. Mohammed Saeed, Hadi Mohammed Abdullah, Zana H. Mahmood, Karokh Fadhil Hamahussein, Hussein M. Hamasalih, Sabah Jalal Hasan, Sanaa O. Karim and 8 more
Introduction Clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines were insufficient to detect uncommon adverse outcomes that are crucial for risk-benefit analyses and informing clinical practice post-vaccination. As a result, detection of infrequent adverse events has become a global research priority. The current study aims to…
Cardiopulmonary Complications Following COVID-19 Vaccinations: A Systematic Review
Bnar J. Hama Amin, Dana H. Mohammed Saeed, Hadi Mohammed Abdullah, Zana H. Mahmood, Karokh Fadhil Hamahussein, Hussein M. Hamasalih, Sabah Jalal Hasan, Sanaa O. Karim and 8 more
IntroductionClinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines were insufficient to detect uncommon adverse outcomes that are crucial for risk-benefit analyses and informing clinical practice post-vaccination. As a result, detection of infrequent adverse events has become a global research priority. The current study aims to estimate the rate of cardiopulmonary complications associated with COVID-19 vaccination.
MethodsTwo databases and one search engine were explored to identify English language-related studies published up to January 2023.
ResultsThe literature search turned up a total of 3974 relevant studies. Of them, 37 articles matched the inclusion criteria. Overall, seven studies from the United States. The mean age of patients was 25 years and about 77% of them were male. The most common reported consequence was inflammatory heart disease (myo-peri-cariditis), followed by pulmonary embolism (17%), and myocardial infarction (5%). The majority of complications were reported following mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations, particularly following the administration of the second dose. Pfizer has a slightly higher risk of cardiac complications following vaccination (4.1 per 100000 persons) than Moderna (3.7 per 100,000 persons).
ConclusionAlthough cardiopulmonary complications associated with COVID-19 vaccinations are uncommon, they can be life-threatening. Therefore, more large-scale observational studies and review articles of those studies are strongly recommended.
