Long Covid: New Study Suggests A Different – And Common – Virus May Play A Role

In some patients

There are several factors that can increase the risk of infection covid longBeyond the Corona virus itself. Scientists now think another virus may play a role.

In research by scientists working with Harvard University, they tested the blood of 43 patients who had arthritis or a similar condition before the pandemic.

Patients in this category, who later developed prolonged Covid, showed evidence of an inadequate antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 and an overwhelming response to antibody to OC43, one of the circulating coronaviruses that causes the common cold.

It is possible that patients had contracted this virus at some point in their lives, prior to infection with SARS-CoV-2, which causes Covid-19, the study authors estimated. When their immune system was exposed to SARS-CoV-2, it “responded” with anti-OC43 antibodies, which despite their similarities were less than ideal. This led to chronic inflammation and other symptoms of the long-term Covid virus.

Dr. Eric Topol, professor of molecular medicine at Scripps Research, described the findings as very interesting. Scientists have already studied whether various viruses, including Epstein-Barr, which cause infectious mononucleosis, contribute to the long-term Covid disease. Dr. pointed out. Topol.

Some new insights into the immune response to #LongCovid (PASC)https://t.co/7cogFNPlC6 In people with rheumatic diseases
1. Fewer antibodies to spike
2. More non-#SARSCoV2 Antibodies, especially against the common cold coronavirus (OC43)
3. Evidence of printing from OC43 as hazards to PASC pic.twitter.com/Krrkg4tyxP

Eric Topol (@EricTopol) September 26, 2022

It is estimated that there are many categories of prolonged Covid with different triggers in each case, apart from infection with the virus itself. The study authors note that although pre-existing illness with the common cold may play a role in people with arthritis, it may or may not have contributed to the long-term emergence of Covid in other patient groups.

But they added that this discovery may help diagnose the long-term Covid disease, especially for patients with arthritis, and possibly develop a treatment for it.

With information from Fortune