- An increasing number of COVID-19 survivors experience coronavirus symptoms several weeks or months after the infection has cleared in what is informally known as “long COVID.”
- Several studies have shown the wide variety of symptoms that long-haul carriers may experience, and physicians highlight the severity of this complication of COVID-19.
- A new set of studies could finally explain why some people suffer from long-term COVID. The disease can trigger autoantibodies that harm the body instead of attacking the virus.
The vast majority of patients with COVID-19 who overcame the virus have not finished fighting their symptoms. The disease has not disappeared after these 14 days of fighting the active infection. Many survivors will experience symptoms of COVID-19 for weeks or months. Some of these symptoms mimic the initial disease
There may be no viruses left in their systems, but they still have trouble breathing and experience fatigue, pain, and other symptoms. This is what is called “long COVID,” a bewildering chronic coronavirus disease. Doctors have been studying these “long carriers” for months, trying to explain the disease and treat it.
Now, a new series of studies could offer an explanation for the symptoms of long COVID, as some researchers think they have finally found out why some people end up suffering long after the infection has passed.
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When the body defends itself against a foreign element such as the new coronavirus, it produces an immune response to get rid of the pathogen. This includes the creation of specific antibodies that can neutralize the virus, as white blood cells adapt to recognize the pathogen and fight it again after reinfection. But The New York Times notes that a large number of studies focus on a type of antibody that will do nothing to block the virus. They are called autoantibodies and are part of the COVID-19 immune response and will attack your own body.
These autoantibodies may persist for several months after infection, which could explain why COVID-19 symptoms can last so long. The conclusion comes from a limited study that needs further validation. Doctors at Boston Medical Center observed nine COVID-19 patients, five of them showing autoantibodies for at least seven months after infection. “It’s a sign; it is not definitive, “Dr. Nahid Bhadelia warned in a comment.” We do not know its prevalence and whether or not it can be related to a long Covid. “
But the Time the report notes that Bhadelia’s work on COVID-19 autoantibodies is not unique:
- a study in October showed that of 52 patients with severe COVID-19, 70% developed autoantibodies against their DNA and proteins that help blood clotting;
- a study in October showed that autoantibodies form against carbohydrates in patients with COVID-19, which could cause neurological signs;
- a study in October also showed that some patients already had autoantibodies existing before infection, and then attacked the immune response to COVID-19;
- a study in November showed that half of the subjects had autoantibodies that could cause clots and blockages in the blood vessels;
- a study in December showed COVID-19 autoantibodies targeting the immune system, brain cells, connective tissue, and clotting factors;
- one study showed that people with rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases (lupus and scleroderma) have a higher risk of death from COVID-19;
- one study said autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis lead to increased respiratory complications of coronavirus.
Some of these antibodies could disappear over time, Harvard University immunologist Dr. If this is the case, the symptoms may go away. “That said, yes, it would be interesting for Covid to be explained by specific autoantibodies,” he added.
Separately, a different immunologist commenting on one of the studies identified a silver coating. “We will learn some fundamental principles about acute viral infections in people who had not previously been easy to study in this way,” Dr. Marion Pepper of the University of Washington in Seattle told the newspaper.
Chris Smith began writing about gadgets as a hobby, and before he knew it, he was sharing his views on technology issues with readers around the world. Whenever he doesn’t write about gadgets, he can’t get away from them, even though he tries desperately. But this is not necessarily a bad thing.