- Children with Long COVID have lung abnormalities, according to new research in Radiology. The small, prospective study included 54 participants, 27 with Long COVID and 27 matched controls. Researchers assessed them with an advanced MRI technique that measures both ventilation (flow of air into the lungs) and perfusion (blood flow). Children with Long COVID had worse ventilation and perfusion, and these readings were correlated with worse symptoms.
- A new review in Biomolecules highlighted the overlap of immune dysfunction and metabolic dysfunction in myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME). “Mitochondrial dysfunction is a critical factor in the pathophysiology of ME/CFS,” the authors wrote, explaining that this dysfunction can cause a variety of problems in people with ME including fatigue and exercise intolerance. They wrote: “The further exploration of…immune–metabolic disruptions could unveil novel insights into ME/CFS pathophysiology, offering potential biomarkers for diagnosis and targets for therapeutic intervention.”
- Another Long COVID clinical trial testing the drug Amantadine is currently recruiting. Amantadine is used to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease — researchers think it could help cognitive function in Long COVID. A second, separate trial, is still recruiting in Columbus, Ohio. The new single-blinded trial will enroll 30 participants in Dallas, Texas. Contact: brittany.wright@utsouthwestern.edu.
