Chronic post-COVID-19 syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome: Is there a role for extracorporeal apheresis?
Mol Psychiatry
; 27(1): 34-37, 2022 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1275900
ABSTRACT
As millions of patients have been infected by SARS-CoV-2 virus a vast number of individuals complain about continuing breathlessness and fatigue even months after the onset of the disease. This overwhelming phenomenon has not been well defined and has been called "post-COVID syndrome" or "long-COVID" [1]. There are striking similarities to myalgic encephalomyelitis also called chronic fatigue syndrome linked to a viral and autoimmune pathogenesis. In both disorders neurotransmitter receptor antibodies against ß-adrenergic and muscarinic receptors may play a key role. We found similar elevation of these autoantibodies in both patient groups. Extracorporeal apheresis using a special filter seems to be effective in reducing these antibodies in a significant way clearly improving the debilitating symptoms of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Therefore, such a form of neuropheresis may provide a promising therapeutic option for patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. This method will also be effective when other hitherto unknown antibodies and inflammatory mediators are involved.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Blood Component Removal
/
Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Mol Psychiatry
Journal subject:
Molecular Biology
/
Psychiatry
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S41380-021-01148-4
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