Are there any similarities in the immune response to human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and SARS-CoV-2?
The severe lymphopenia observed in COVID-1922 is
similar to that reported in HIV infection and acquired immune deficiency
syndrome. The latter is characterized by CD4+ T cell lymphopenia,
whereas COVID-19 causes general lymphopenia. However, severe lymphopenia
development in COVID-19 happens in weeks, whereas HIV-induced
lymphopenia takes years.23 HIV and SARS-CoV-2 are RNA
viruses and follow similar replication pathways; hence some RNA
replication drugs may work in both diseases.24