Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
'Long COVID' May Be Caused By 'Friendly Fire,' Yale Study Finds
The Guardian: 'Autoantibodies' May Be Driving Severe Covid Cases, Study Shows
Dramatic levels of “friendly fire” from the immune system may drive severe Covid-19 disease and leave patients with “long Covid” – when medical problems persist for a significant time after the virus has been beaten – scientists have said. Researchers at Yale University found that Covid-19 patients had large numbers of misguided antibodies in their blood that targeted the organs, tissues and the immune system itself, rather than fighting off the invading virus. (Sample, 12/13)
The Telegraph: Immune System 'Friendly Fire' May Cause Long Covid, Yale Study Finds
Immune system “friendly fire” may cause long Covid as antibodies mistakenly target organs and tissues instead of the Coronavirus, a Yale study has found. Researchers in the US found Covid-19 patients had large numbers of misguided antibodies in their blood that went on to target organs, tissues and the immune system itself, rather than the invading virus. This could explain why some victims of the disease develop so-called long Covid; a continuation of medical problems many weeks after the initial attack of Covid-19 has been beaten off. (Nicholls, 12/13)
In other updates about "long COVID" —
CNBC: Covid ‘Long Haulers’ May Take More Than A Year To Recover, Says Mayo Clinic Doctor
Coronavirus patients who develop “post-Covid syndrome” brain fog and fatigue — often referred to as “long haulers” — may feel the effects for more than a year, according to a Mayo Clinic doctor studying the phenomenon. Dr. Greg Vanichkachorn, an occupational medicine specialist, told CNBC in a phone interview Wednesday that he won’t be “too shocked” if some Covid-19 long-haulers were to experience a similar, lengthy recovery trajectory as some sufferers of severe acute respiratory syndrome. SARS, a respiratory virus similar to the novel coronavirus, sparked an epidemic in 2003. (Stankiewicz, 12/9)
The Lancet: Facing Up To Long COVID
Multiorgan symptoms after COVID-19 are being reported by increasing numbers of patients. They range from cough and shortness of breath, to fatigue, headache, palpitations, chest pain, joint pain, physical limitations, depression, and insomnia, and affect people of varying ages. At the Lancet–Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences conference on Nov 23, Bin Cao presented data (in press at The Lancet) on the long-term consequences of COVID-19 for patients in Wuhan, and warned that dysfunctions and complications could persist in some discharged patients for at least 6 months. So-called long COVID is a burgeoning health concern and action is needed now to address it. (12/12)
