THE ESSENTIAL
- Australian research has found inflammatory markers in the blood of patients with long Covid.
- These appear to impact the activity of cardiomyocytes, the heart cells responsible for its pump function.
- They could thus explain the cardiac symptoms of patients with long Covid.
According to estimates, the prevalence of long covid is estimated at 4% in the general adult population. While many people suffer from these persistent disorders weeks or even years after their SARS-CoV-2 infection, post-Covid-19 illness remains quite mysterious.
However, researchers at the University of Queensland have found an explanation for the cardiovascular problems observed in patients. They discovered the presence of inflammatory markers in the blood that can damage the heart.
Long Covid and heart: high levels of cytokines in the blood
To understand the origin of persistent chest pain and heart palpitations commonly reported by patients suffering from long covid, researchers brought together 50 participants. Some had the disorder, others had recovered from Covid-19 and others had never contracted the virus.
“We discovered high levels of cytokines, proteins that help control inflammation in the body, in blood samples from people around 18 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection”explains Professor Kirsty Short in a press release.
“Laboratory studies have shown that these trace-level cytokines have a direct effect on the activity of cardiomyocytes, the cells of the heart responsible for its pump function. These particular types of cells are fundamental building blocks for our heart, so Damaging them can lead to cardiovascular symptoms.”adds the expert.
Long Covid and inflammation: further research needed
Faced with these results published in the journal Nature MicrobiologyAustralian researchers conclude that the inflammation observed in long-term covid patients can damage the heart, and thus cause the cardiovascular disorders observed.
However, they acknowledge that more research is needed. “This is only the beginning and these results require validation in other patient cohorts, including those infected with newer strains of SARS-CoV-2”specifies the head of the study.
“We are now curious if our results could be applied to other symptoms of long Covid such as neurological diseases or respiratory diseases, as this study actively recruited people with chest pain and/or heart palpitations”adds the scientist.
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