UNS — A scientific article entitled “SARS-CoV-2 vaccination can elicit a CD8 T-Cell dominant hepatitis” published in the Journal of Hepatology a few days ago was widely discussed by citizens due to a perception that the journal proves the link between the Covid-19 vaccine and mysterious acute hepatitis recently found in Indonesia. Although the exact cause of mysterious acute hepatitis is not yet known, the relationship between the two matters is disputed by the Pathology Specialist Doctor in Universitas Sebelas Maret Hospital (RS UNS) Surakarta, dr. Tonang Dwi Ardyanto, Sp.PK(K), Ph.D., FISQua. He said the article did not address the mysterious acute hepatitis, which brings concern to many parents.
More precisely, says dr. Tonang, the article discusses the hepatitis conditions associated with post-vaccination autoimmune hepatitis. “The current cases of hepatitis are suspected because of the virus. In contrast, the one discussed in the article is suspected due to an autoimmune condition. So they are different,” said Dr. Tonang to uns.ac.id, Friday (13/5/2022). The autoimmune discussed in the article in the Journal of Hepatology, according to dr. Tonang occurs because of the similarity between the protein arrangement in the S section (spike) between Covid-19 and a protein arrangement in certain people.
He further elaborates that the innate proteins in certain people’s bodies may have similarities to proteins in the S section of Covid-19, which is scientifically known as Molecular Mimicry. When infected with Covid-19, the body forms antibodies, especially antibodies against the S part, commonly called S-RBD antibodies. “Because in a certain person’s body there is a protein that is similar to the S part of Covid-19, then the S-RBD antibody reacts to the protein of the person itself. This is what we called autoimmunity,” explained Dr. Tonang. When this autoimmunity occurs, then the person may develop inflammation in the body.
Further dr. Tonang states that the extent of inflammation that occurs depends on the similarity with the Covid-19 S protein, so the more similar the S protein is, the stronger the reaction occurs. “When inflammation due to the resemblance occurs in liver tissue, hepatitis occurs. As I explained before, the degree depends on how similar it is,” he added.
Sometimes there would not be a problem when someone is infected with Covid-19. However, after recovering from Covid-19 and antibodies formed, problems may arise if there is a resemblance of body proteins with the S part of the Covid-19 virus. dr. Tonang explained that the condition could be resolved with temporary medication to relieve autoantibody reactions. However, for someone who has an autoimmune disease at birth, it usually requires long-term treatment.
“As discussed in the journal article, the patient can recover well after a temporary therapy. That is why we can find ‘… possibly transient immune-mediated hepatitis post-vaccination,’ statement from the journal article’s author,” he concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: YCA Sanjaya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti