Long-lived covids can now be detected in our blood
Certain proteins have been identified in patients suffering from long-term Covid, which could revolutionize diagnosis and treatment.
Patient Joerg Schneider does breathing exercises in the gym at the Teutoburger Wald Clinic, a rehabilitation clinic for post-Covid patients.
Keystone/Friso Gentsch
A team of researchers from Zurich has identified a peculiarity in the blood proteins of people with prolonged covid. It can also be used to better diagnose the problem and perhaps treat it in a more targeted way.
Researchers at the University and Hospital in Zurich analyzed more than 6,500 proteins in the blood serum of 113 people infected with Covid-19 and 39 healthy people, suggests a study published on Thursday in the journal “Science”. Among the infected people, 40 of whom developed prolonged covid, they reexamined the blood patterns after 6 and 12 months.
In the serum of people with prolonged covid, they observed changes in proteins associated with the so-called “complement” system, which is part of the immune system.
This system, which fights infection, does not return to a resting state after infection in long-term Covid cases, Onur Boyman, head of the study, explained to Keystone-ATS. It thus causes cellular damage.
ATS
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