Long-term immune problems detected in recovered COVID-19 patients
New Australian research is offering a thorough look at the lasting impact of COVID-19 on immune system activity. Tracking a wide variety of biomarkers the research found immune abnormalities persisting at least six months after patients recover from acute disease.
Eighteen months into this global pandemic researchers are increasingly investigating the long-lasting effects of a SARS-CoV-2 infection. Dubbed “long COVID“, growing numbers of patients are reporting persistent symptoms lingering for months following the acute disease.
The Australian research is following 69 recovered COVID-19 patients, the majority of whom (47) only suffered from mild disease. Because of Australia’s unique position in the world, having temporarily eliminated the virus from certain regions, the ongoing project can track long-term immune responses to an infection without worrying about re-infection or vaccination status.
This new study, not yet peer-reviewed or published in a journal, outlines the effects of an infection on the peripheral immune system in the six months after initial recovery. Blood samples were taken from each subject at three points in the six-month study.
This article reported by Rich Haridy in NEW ATLAS from The University of Adelaide is worthwhile reading especially by those who think at COVID is just a bad case of influenza. Hopefully, this scientific study will help to change their mind.
The new research is yet to be peer-reviewed or published but it has been posted on medRxiv.
The above links will take you to the full article. Well worth reading!