Long-lasting coronavirus leaves silent consequences throughout the body, study finds

COVID-19 can leave lasting effects. Science has yet to discover the long-term health effects of the disease. A new study of 24 patients found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus causes changes in immune system cells in different parts of the body.

According to a study conducted by the University of California, CellSight Technologies and Kaiser Permanente South San Francisco Medical Center, the effect is widespread and silent.

The immune system is experiencing far-reaching effects.

PET (positron emission tomography) scans reveal alarming images of the entire body of COVID-19 patients.
The researchers found abnormal activity of T cells – the immune system – in the brain stem, spinal cord, bone tissue, nose and throat, heart tissue, lung tissue and intestinal wall.
Among the 24 volunteers, 6 fully recovered from the most severe stage of the disease and 18 developed symptoms of long Covid.
The impact on certain parts of the body, such as the spinal cord and intestinal wall, was greater in patients with long-term Covid.
But even those who fully recovered showed persistent changes in T-cell activity in multiple organs for up to two and a half years.
Although the study is not conclusive, it suggests that the persistence of symptoms could be linked to the virus’s effect on the immune system.

PET image showing increased T cell activation throughout the body in COVID-19 patients. – Image: UCLA

But what could these changes mean?

To better understand, imagine that the little soldiers in your body are undergoing changes that make them more fragile. Without this balanced and strong defense system, the body may not be able to fully heal itself from the effects of illness or become more vulnerable to invaders.

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The lingering effects of long Covid

Long Covid is a disease characterized by a series of symptoms that persist after an initial infection with SARS-CoV-2, with no other known cause. Diagnosis is difficult, with more than 200 possible symptoms such as “mental confusion”, fatigue and diarrhea, which can overlap with other illnesses.

Illustration of a woman with hand behind her head and COVID symptoms in the background — *Research into the effects of COVID-19 is ongoing and new findings may emerge.* – Photo: Financial Times

The disease can affect multiple organs, including the heart, brain, lungs, etc. Autopsies performed in previous studies have also revealed that the virus can persist in different parts of the body for months.

There is also evidence that SARS-CoV-2 can reactivate other dormant viruses, such as the Epstein-Barr virus, which is associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Other studies suggest that long COVID and CFS share many symptoms and may be the same disease.

These findings highlight the need for further research to fully understand the lingering effects of COVID-19. Details of the study were published in Translational Medicine Sciences.