Non-causal association of COVID-19 with systemic lupus erythematosus: Evidence from a bidirectional Mendelian randomization

The connection between autoimmune diseases and COVID-19 has garnered considerable attention. In this journal, Liu et al.1 and Yang et al.2 investigated this association in their publications; however, their findings had produced conflicting results. More recently, Peng et al.3 reported a genetic causal association between gout, one of the most prevalent autoimmune diseases, and severe COVID-19. Their study provided valuable guidance on managing COVID-19 and gout. Nevertheless, the relationship between another common autoimmune disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and COVID-19 is contentious.