Case Report: Neutralization of Autoantibodies Targeting G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Improves Capillary Impairment and Fatigue Symptoms After COVID-19 Infection

Abstract

Clinical features of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Acute infection management is a substantial healthcare issue, and the development of long-Covid syndrome (LCS) is extremely challenging for patients and physicians. It is associated with a variety of characteristics as impaired capillary microcirculation, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), proinflammatory cytokines, and functional autoantibodies targeting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR-AAbs). Here, we present a case report of successful healing of LCS with BC 007 (Berlin Cures, Berlin, Germany), a DNA aptamer drug with a high affinity to GPCR-AAbs that neutralizes these AAbs. A patient with a documented history of glaucoma, recovered from mild COVID-19, but still suffered from CFS, loss of taste, and impaired capillary microcirculation in the macula and peripapillary region. He was positively tested for various targeting GPCR-AAbs. Within 48 h after a single BC 007 treatment, GPCR-AAbs were functionally inactivated and remained inactive during the observation period of 4 weeks. This observation was accompanied by constant improvement of the fatigue symptoms of the patient, taste, and retinal capillary microcirculation. Therefore, the removal of GPCR-AAb might ameliorate the characteristics of the LCD, such as capillary impairment, loss of taste, and CFS.

A Scoping Review of Pharmacological Management of Postacute Sequelae of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection in 2021

“…28,[90][91][92] Six studies with available data assessed PASC symptoms of fatigue, among other symptoms. [47][48][49][50][51][52] However, it is There are numerous other proposed mechanisms of various PASC symptoms. However, beyond treatments for discrete PASC symptoms with well-known pathophysiology, there is not enough evidence to recommend any medication for the more nebulous symptoms of PASC.…”

Descriptive and Narrative Study of Long Covid Cases in General Practice and Diagnostic Value of Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT scan)

“…open a therapeutic door by successfully improving a patient through the use of a anti-autoantibody synthetic monoclonal antibody (Aptamer). 69…”

“…68 Hohberger et all showed an impaired capillary microcirculation in the macula and peripapillary region. 69 Fogarty et al showed that persistent endothelial cell activation may be important in modulating the ongoing pro-coagulant effects in convalescent Covid-19 patients and thus contribute to the pathogenesis underlying the Covid-19 syndrome. 70 Hypercoagulation, vascular complications 71 and microclots formation in Covid-19 have already been identified 72 .…”

Manifestationen im Zentralnervensystem nach COVID-19

“…zu einer spezifischen Hirnregion steht bislang aus. Die Elimination funktioneller Auto-Ak gegen G‑Protein-gekoppelte Rezeptoren [ 76 ] wird aktuell auch als therapeutische Option weiter untersucht, nachdem in einem Fall [ 30 ] eine positive Wirkung auf das PCS gezeigt werden konnte. Insgesamt erhielten bis heute drei Patient:innen (zwei Männer und eine Frau zwischen 39 und 51 Jahren, davon ein Fall publiziert) mit schweren neurologischen PCS-Symptomen (u. a. starke Fatigue, kognitive Einschränkungen, Koordinationsschwierigkeiten, Paresen) in individuellen Heilversuchen das ursprünglich gegen Herzinsuffizienz entwickelte Medikament BC 007 [ 21 ].…”

“…Insgesamt erhielten bis heute drei Patient:innen (zwei Männer und eine Frau zwischen 39 und 51 Jahren, davon ein Fall publiziert) mit schweren neurologischen PCS-Symptomen (u. a. starke Fatigue, kognitive Einschränkungen, Koordinationsschwierigkeiten, Paresen) in individuellen Heilversuchen das ursprünglich gegen Herzinsuffizienz entwickelte Medikament BC 007 [ 21 ]. Im publizierten Fall zeigte sich über einen Beobachtungszeitraum von 4 Wochen eine deutliche Verbesserung der klinischen Symptome sowie eine anhaltende Neutralisierung der Auto-Ak gegen G‑Protein-gekoppelte Rezeptoren [ 30 ].…”