There is precedent here. I think most studies/researchers now accept the evidence that an initial virus infection is a cause of many autoimmune illnesses. My doctor is very open to this and thinks that long Covid could be like HIV in that an antiviral may need to be continued for a long time - the way people with HIV often have to continue taking antivirals.
This is from the NIH: (ART stands for antiretroviral therapy)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5091800/
“ A major challenge of ART is that treatment must be continuous to receive benefits and in most cases requires a lifelong commitment.”

I’m trying maraviroc, an HIV medication, and it seems to be helping. I’m trying not to get too hopeful, but my heart rate, resting heart rate, and walking heart rate are all down by 7-12 bpm. I’ve had a longer window of energy each day, and I’ve begun to start tackling projects I haven’t been able to work on in the 2years and 8months of this grand virus. Still nowhere near well, but a little better.

I assume I’m late in finding out about this book - it’s probably been talked about quite a bit since it came out in 2022 - but it helped me think about chronic illness in some new ways. Among other things, she talks a lot about the viral causes of autoimmune disorders. The book is The Invisible Kingdom” by Meghan O’Rourk