SARS-CoV-2 RNA can persist in blood, tissue, may play role in long COVID, research suggests

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

 

SARS-CoV-2 viral fragments can remain in blood and tissue for more than a year after infection, which researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) say could contribute to long COVID.

 

In two studies, the researchers found SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the blood for up to 14 months post-infection and for more than 2 years in connective-tissue samples from 171 COVID-19 survivors without evidence of reinfection. The team obtained the samples from UCSF's Long COVID Tissue Bank, which houses samples donated by patients with and without long COVID.

...

Michael Peluso, MD, who led the studies...added that more research is needed to determine whether the viral RNA contributes to long COVID and related events such as heart attack and stroke. His team is involved in clinical trials that are studying whether monoclonal antibodies or antiviral drugs can eliminate the RNA and benefit long-COVID patients.

 

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/sars-cov-2-rna-can-persist-blood-tissue-may-play-role-long-covid-research-suggests

 

 

Evidence of long-term infection

 

Early in the pandemic, COVID-19 was thought to be a transient illness. But a growing number of patients, even those who had previously been healthy, continued having symptoms, such as, brain fog, digestive problems and vascular issues, for months or even years. 

 

The researchers looked at blood samples from 171 people who had been infected with COVID. Using an ultra-sensitive test for the COVID “spike” protein, which helps the virus break into human cells, the scientists found the virus was still present up to 14 months later in some people.

 

Among those who were hospitalized for COVID, the likelihood of detecting the COVID antigens was about twice as high as it was for those who were not. It was also higher for those who reported being sicker, but were not hospitalized.

 

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1036945

 

 

[flyingtlger]

7 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

having symptoms, such as, brain fog, digestive problems and vascular issues, for months or even years. 

I have these symptoms and I didn't even get Covid ....