Skip to main content

Differences Seen in Immune, Hormone Function for Those With Long COVID

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, Sept. 29, 2023 -- Individuals with post-acute infection syndrome after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection (long COVID [LC]) have differences in immune and hormone function compared with those without LC, according to a study published online Sept. 25 in Nature.

Jon Klein, from the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, and colleagues enrolled 273 individuals with or without LC in a cross-sectional study to examine the biological processes associated with the development and persistence of symptoms of LC. The study included multidimensional immune phenotyping and unbiased machine learning methods.

The researchers identified marked differences in circulating myeloid and lymphocyte populations relative to matched controls and evidence of exaggerated humoral responses directed against SARS-CoV-2 among those with LC. Individuals with LC had higher antibody responses directed against non-SARS-CoV-2 viral pathogens, especially Epstein-Barr virus. Variation was seen in the levels of soluble immune mediators and hormones among the groups, with lower cortisol levels noted among those with LC.

"We are excited to see such clear differences in the immune phenotypes in people with and without long COVID," coauthor Akiko Iwasaki, Ph.D., also from the Yale School of Medicine, said in a statement. "These markers need to be validated in larger studies, but provide a first step in dissecting the disease pathogenesis of long COVID."

Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical and information technology industries.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted September 2023

Further Support and Information on COVID-19

Read this next

Sociodemographics Tied to Rehab Use During Critical Illness Hospitalization

FRIDAY, May 10, 2024 -- For older adults hospitalized with a stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), social determinants of health (SDOH) are associated with use of skilled...

Breakthrough Gene Therapy Enables Infant Born Deaf to Hear

FRIDAY, May 10, 2024 -- Significant hearing improvements have been achieved in an infant with profound hearing loss due to a biallelic otoferlin gene (OTOF) mutation, according to...

Implantable Continuous Flow Device Feasible for Small Children With Severe Systolic Heart Failure

FRIDAY, May 10, 2024 -- The Jarvik 2015 left ventricular assist device (LVAD) seems promising as an implantable continuous flow device for small children with severe systolic...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.