Rheumatic Diseases as Long-Term Consequences of Infections

Statement by the Leopoldina

On October 1, 2026, the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina issued a comprehensive statement on the care, data infrastructure, research, and prevention of “post-infectious diseases.” Many rheumatic diseases are believed to be triggered by infections. For some, this is already known — for example, reactive arthritis. The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus can also cause chronic long-term effects; Long COVID has drawn attention to post-infectious diseases.

Prof. Dr. Andreas Radbruch of the DRFZ, a member of the Leopoldina, contributed to the statement. The research described in the statement, conducted by the research group led by Dr. Mir-Farzin Mashreghi at the DRFZ, has made a significant contribution to a better understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 can trigger chronic inflammation and what role other viruses play in this process. This has yielded important insights into the development of post-infectious diseases.

Statement by Leopoldina