- An increasing number of COVID-19 survivors are experiencing coronavirus symptoms several weeks or months after the infection clears in what is informally known as ‘Long COVID’.
- Several studies have shown the wide variety of symptoms that long-distance travelers can experience, with doctors highlighting the severity of this COVID-19 complication.
- A new series of studies could finally explain why some people suffer from lung COVID. The disease can cause autoantibodies that damage the body instead of attacking the virus.
The vast majority of COVID-19 patients who beat the virus are not done fighting the symptoms. The disease has not cleared up after 14 days of fighting the active infection. Many survivors will experience COVID-19 symptoms for the next weeks to months. Some of those symptoms mimic the initial illness
There may no longer be a virus in their systems, but they still have trouble breathing and experience fatigue, pain, and other symptoms. This is what has been called “Lange COVID”, an enigmatic chronic coronavirus disease. Doctors have studied these “long-haul vehicles” for months to explain and treat the condition.
Now, a new series of studies could provide an explanation for lung COVID symptoms, as some researchers believe they have finally discovered why some people suffer long after the infection has passed.
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When the body defends itself against a foreign element such as the novel coronavirus, it sets up an immune response to get rid of the pathogen. This involves creating specific antibodies that can neutralize the virus as white blood cells adapt to recognize the pathogen and fight it again upon reinfection. But The New York Times points out that many studies focus on a type of antibody that does nothing to block the virus. They are called autoantibodies and they are part of the immune response in COVID-19, and they will attack your own body.
These autoantibodies can persist for several months after infection, which could explain why COVID-19 symptoms can last for so long. The conclusion comes from a limited study that needs more validation. Doctors at Boston Medical Center observed nine COVID-19 patients, five of whom showed autoantibodies for at least seven months after infection. ‘It’s a signal; it’s not final, ” Dr. Nahid Bhadelia in a comment. “We don’t know how common it is or whether it can be linked to Long Covid.”
But the Times report points out that Bhadelia’s work on COVID-19 autoantibodies is not unique:
- an October study showed that of 52 patients with severe COVID-19, 70% developed autoantibodies against their DNA and proteins that help blood clotting;
- an October study showed that autoantibodies are formed against carbohydrates in COVID-19 patients, which can lead to neurological symptoms;
- a study in October also found that some patients had pre-existing autoantibodies 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 blood vessels;
- a December study showed that COVID-19 autoantibodies target the immune system, brain cells, connective tissue and clotting factors;
- one study found that people suffering from rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases (lupus and scleroderma) are at an increased risk of death with COVID-19;
- one study said autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis lead to an increase in respiratory complications from the coronavirus.
Some of these antibodies could disappear over time, Harvard University immunologist Dr. Shiv Pilai told the paper. If so, the symptoms may disappear. “That said – yes, it would be interesting if Long Covid could be explained by specific autoantibodies,” he added.
Separately, another immunologist commenting on one of the studies identified a silver lining. “We are going to learn some fundamental principles about acute viral infections in humans that were previously not easy to study in this way,” said Dr. Marion Pepper from the University of Washington Seattle newspaper.
Chris Smith started writing about gadgets as a hobby and before he knew it, he shared his thoughts on tech matters with readers around the world. When not writing about gadgets, he sadly fails to stay away from them, though he desperately tries. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing.