The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic of the atypical pandemic is infecting millions of people, and some research is linked to conditions that may increase the risk of a fatal course of this disease, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. In Covid-19 physiopathology, one of the main mechanisms of inflammation is the “cytokine storm”, which causes a pro-inflammatory condition associated with heart and lung damage. The role of lymphocytes B and T in the humoral immunity is also less effective due to their reduced proliferative response. Physiopathology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes several modifications on the genetic and immune level, such as increased inflammatory cytokines and abnormal immune response on several levels. We suggest that ASD may be a risk factor, as are other conditions.

People with low-grade chronic inflammation conditions, such as diabetes or chronic heart failure are at high risk of developing Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) due to COVID-19. This may be explained by a massive inflammatory activation – “cytokine storm” – facilitated by an already pro-inflammatory environment observed in these conditions. This supposition raises the question that patients with ASD, a chronic neuroinflammatory disorder, are at risk of poor outcome in COVID-19.