Are fatigue and brain fog causing microscopic blood clots in the brain? Experts reveal the three major diseases that may cause "COVID-19"
Will 1 in 5 people infected with the epidemic develop COVID-19? Scientists reveal three possible reasons
COVID-19 has affected the world for nearly three years. For many people, as long as they have proper rest and treatment after being diagnosed with the epidemic, they can return to normal life after symptoms recover. However, the nightmare of many diagnosed patients only begins after they recover from the virus infection.
According to the latest data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) at the end of May, 1 in 5 of the 2 million confirmed cases have symptoms related to “Long COVID.” Although some studies have shown that vaccination can slightly reduce the risk of COVID-19, there is still an open question whether the vaccine can effectively prevent the occurrence of COVID-19.
An article in the authoritative academic journal “SCIENCE” pointed out that since the beginning of the virus pandemic, scientists have discovered that “growing COVID-19” may cause persistent symptoms, and have worked hard to explore the causes behind it. So far, there are three possible theories for the sequelae of COVID-19: the first is tiny blood clots caused by viral infection, the second is that the virus remains in the body and continues to replicate, and the third is immune abnormalities caused by the epidemic.
Viruses cause coagulation abnormalities? Tiny blood clots cause various symptoms
The emergence of “COVID-19” after infection is not a recent phenomenon. Danilo Buonsenso, an Italian pediatric infectious disease physician, discovered two years ago that children with mild infections still have symptoms such as shortness of breath and extreme fatigue several months after recovery. It is suspected that a viral infection caused abnormal coagulation function. Tiny thrombotic plaques appeared in the patient’s body, causing blockage of the circulatory system, and may even have “catastrophic” effects on the brain and joints.
Buonsenso used “Single Photon Computed Tomography” (SPECT-CT) to examine whether these tiny thrombi caused changes in pulmonary blood flow. From 11 confirmed patients, he found that tiny thrombi and damage to the inner wall of blood vessels after infection may indeed cause Blood flow to the lungs decreases. However, no obvious “plaques” were found in the imaging scans, so these patients did not meet the criteria for taking anticoagulant drugs.
After being infected with the epidemic, Marta Esperti, a graduate student living in Paris, began to develop symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty breathing when walking, persistent fever, and joint pain. However, blood tests, X-ray examinations, and other pathology reports showed that her physical condition was normal. Later, Esperti underwent a single-photon computed tomography scan and found that her right lung was “almost completely blue” and her blood flow was obviously affected.
Resia Pretorius, a chemistry expert at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, warned that tiny thrombotic plaques caused by COVID-19 may flow in the blood and cause excessive coagulation in patients with COVID-19. Blood clots may cause damage to the lungs, brain and other organs. Even if the disease is mild during infection, it may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke weeks after infection.
David Lee, an attending physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, believes that whether it is acute infection with COVID-19 or chronic COVID-19, there is not much difference in the phenomenon of tiny blood clots caused by the virus. He estimates that 70% of patients with COVID-19 will develop it. Respiratory problems, at least 30% of cases occur, autonomic nervous system dysfunction, and interference with the autonomic nervous system can affect heart rate, breathing, and digestive functions. Blood clots may also cause fatigue and brain fog.
However, there is currently a lack of clear evidence to prove that tiny blood clots are the main cause of COVID-19, and it can only be regarded as a “coagulation hypothesis.” More scientists are recruiting recovered patients to undergo single-photon computed tomography scans and other small trials to improve the clotting mechanism, hoping to further confirm the relationship.
Does the virus continue to replicate after infection? Viral RNA is still present in the gut
American microbiologist Amy Proal, who specializes in studying bacteria and viruses, believes that the COVID-19 virus will continue to cause damage in the body after the acute stage of infection. In an autopsy study of 44 people who died from the epidemic, she found that the brain, muscle Viral RNA is still present in the intestines and lungs. This study shows that the virus continues to replicate inside the human body, but the connection with COVID-19 is not direct.
Since the virus can hide in intestinal tissue, may it be the culprit causing COVID-19? Herbert Tilg, a gastroenterologist at the Medizinische Universität Innsbruck in Austria, recruited 46 infected people, 21 of whom developed COVID-19 symptoms. Endoscopy revealed that their intestinal tissues all contained viral RNA, he said. In patients with COVID-19, the virus is still present in the intestinal tissue.
Is the small amount of virus that persists in the body directly linked to the growth of COVID-19? More scientific experiments are needed to prove it. What is known at this stage is that viral RNA can still be detected in the feces, urine, and plasma of patients with COVID-19. Some people also believe that antiviral drugs can help eliminate residual viruses and reduce COVID-19 symptoms. However, trials so far have not clearly proven to be effective.
Viral infection causes immune abnormalities? People with cognitive disabilities are more likely to
The third possible theory of causing COVID-19 combines the two mechanisms of tiny blood clots after infection and the residual virus that persists in the body after recovery. It is believed that the two together affect the body’s immune system, causing a series of “immune abnormalities” reaction.
A report published in “Nature Immunology” pointed out that patients with COVID-19 developed fatigue and other symptoms three months later. Blood tests found that the immune systems of these people have been in a “high alert” state.
This study found that 8 months after infection, patients with COVID-19 still had very high levels of interferon in their bodies. Interferon is a protein produced by the immune system to resist bacterial invasion. In addition to humans, a preprint of animal research from Stanford University also pointed out that implanting the COVID-19 virus in the nasal cavity of mice can cause brain inflammation and neurological symptoms. In a comparison of patients with COVID-19 symptoms, it was also found that those with cognitive impairment had higher inflammatory indexes in their blood. These inflammation indices are not a standard blood test, but they may be important in understanding how COVID-19 affects patients.
UK launches COVID-19 clinical trial to find clear treatment
The exact cause of “COVID-19” has not yet been found, and there is also a lack of consistent standards for how to give a clear clinical diagnosis. Some scientists believe that “COVID-19” is regarded as a disease, but it is actually a series of different forms. symptom.
In order to solve the definition and find effective treatments, the UK has started the “STIMULATE-ICP” study, recruiting 4,500 COVID-19 patients, randomly assigning them to three groups of anticoagulants, anti-inflammatory drugs, and antihistamine drugs, and Collect blood samples from patients in the hope of finding clear and effective treatments for “COVID-19”.
Marta Esperti’s case has also made progress. After taking anticoagulant drugs for more than a year, she can live and exercise normally, but she is still unable to run or carry heavy objects, and she occasionally suffers from fatigue symptoms. In December 2021, she was infected with the COVID-19 virus for the second time and suffered severe debilitating sequelae. She did not get better until she received the fourth dose of the vaccine in late March.
However, although Marta Esperti’s lung function has improved, imaging tests have shown that her lungs have not changed. Therefore, how COVID-19 caused her physical symptoms remains a mystery.
Amitava Banerjee, a cardiologist at the University of London who leads the “STIMULATE-ICP” research project, believes that trials of antiviral drugs to treat the acute phase of COVID-19 are progressing very quickly, but research on how to treat and improve “long COVID-19” is We have just started, and humans still have to be cautious and modest in the face of the changes brought about by the virus.
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