Recent findings indicate that identifying enduring lung injury following a COVID-19 infection could be achieved through a straightforward blood screening. 🩸
Investigations conducted in the UK revealed that individuals suffering from lasting lung irregularities months after being hospitalized showed increased concentrations of two specific biological markers. 🧬
The first marker, MMP-7, plays a role in tissue decomposition as the body strives to repair and restructure itself. The second, KL-6, signals inflammation or harm within the lungs, with higher counts typically observed in those diagnosed with different forms of interstitial lung disease.
When these indicators remain high, it suggests continuous damage to the epithelium, the fragile outer lining of our respiratory organs. 🫁
Discovery of these patterns offers vital insight into the biological processes driving the respiratory symptoms some individuals continue to face following acute Covid-19, and may offer explanations regarding Long COVID cases as well. 🔎
Gaining a clearer grasp of these mechanisms brings us closer to developing effective therapies! 🙌
The @BBC is currently showcasing the Rosetta Stone study regarding MECFS and Long COVID, which has been financed with £1.1 million from the @MEAssociation. 🙏👇
Making headlines in the field of Long COVID, UPenn researcher Yong Chen, PhD, was recently honored with the Clinical Research Forum Awards. This recognition was given for his paper titled Long COVID Associated with SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection Among Children and Adolescents in the Omicron Era (RECOVER-EHR).
Regarding the selection of this year's recipients, the Clinical Research Forum noted that these 10 award-winning studies exemplify major advances resulting from the nation’s investment in research to benefit the health and welfare of its citizens. It is truly exciting to witness a paper on Long COVID recognized for having such a profound impact.
Specifically, the findings of this study challenge the frequent misconception that reinfections are likely to be benign or more mild. On the contrary, the research indicates that children and adolescents face a significantly higher risk of various PASC outcomes after reinfection with SARS-CoV-2.