- A new study in eBioMedicine found neurological Long COVID symptoms were associated with increased pTau-181 levels, a marker of brain inflammation that has been tied to Alzheimer’s disease. The study included 9/11 World Trade Center first responders participating in an ongoing health monitoring program, 227 of whom developed neurological Long COVID and 227 controls. One author concluded the results could imply that Long COVID “could worsen with time and cause changes in neurological symptoms,” yet, researchers aren’t sure if the increase in the marker “represents a biological course that could be similar to individuals who develop Alzheimer’s or related diseases.”
- A new “state-of-the-art” review on postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) highlighted that the multisystemic condition is disabling and causes societal and economic withdrawal. The review was published in Heart, Lung and Circulation and aimed to improve diagnosis, awareness, and management of the condition. The authors concluded that POTS is a “dominant phenotype” in Long COVID and that its prevalence “will continue to grow, with most healthcare professionals likely to encounter” it. The review notes that physicians sometimes recommend exercise as a personalized POTS treatment, but cautions that it can be harmful for people who also have myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).
- A phase II clinical trial testing the efficacy and safety of the drug Uplizna (Inebilizumab) in Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) was recently announced by the German Ministry of Research. Uplinza is a monoclonal antibody that is used to treat specific autoimmune diseases, including generalized myasthenia gravis. The trial follows a trend of monoclonal antibodies being studied for Long COVID and related diseases. We’ll update readers once the trial is enrolling and has more specifics.
