Long covid and apheresis: a miracle cure sold on a hypothesis of hope

Abbasi, Kamran

doi:10.1136/bmj.o1733

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Therapeutic apheresis has been reported to be effective in many patients affected [ 3 – 6 ] but due to the lack of validated controlled trials and high treatment costs, health insurance companies have rarely provided reimbursement. Because of the lack of controls and single reports in the media of patients showing no improvement after therapeutic apheresis, critical papers questioning any benefit of such an invasive procedure have been published [ 7 , 8 ]. Randomized controlled trials using an invasive procedure requiring sham treatments are ethically challenging and time-consuming due to regulatory issues.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical improvement of Long-COVID is associated with reduction in autoantibodies, lipids, and inflammation following therapeutic apheresis

et al. 2023

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In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are witnessing an unprecedented wave of post-infectious complications. Most prominently, millions of patients with Long-Covid complain about chronic fatigue and severe post-exertional malaise. Therapeutic apheresis has been suggested as an efficient treatment option for alleviating and mitigating symptoms in this desperate group of patients. However, little is known about the mechanisms and biomarkers correlating with treatment outcomes. Here, we have analyzed in different cohorts of Long-Covid patients specific biomarkers before and after therapeutic apheresis. In patients that reported a significant improvement following two cycles of therapeutic apheresis, there was a significant reduction in neurotransmitter autoantibodies, lipids, and inflammatory markers. Furthermore, we observed a 70% reduction in fibrinogen, and following apheresis, erythrocyte rouleaux formation and fibrin fibers largely disappeared as demonstrated by dark field microscopy. This is the first study demonstrating a pattern of specific biomarkers with clinical symptoms in this patient group. It may therefore form the basis for a more objective monitoring and a clinical score for the treatment of Long-Covid and other postinfectious syndromes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical improvement of Long-COVID is associated with reduction in autoantibodies, lipids, and inflammation following therapeutic apheresis

et al. 2023

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“…This treatment has received a lot of attention. However, to date, there are still no controlled randomized trials and it is still discussed whether this method is valid for treatment of people suffering from long-term symptoms after an infection with SARS-CoV-2 [11,12]. In the current paper, we will discuss which experiments were performed to date and relate to our own clinical experience.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post COVID and Apheresis – Where are we Standing?

et al. 2022

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A continual increase in cases of Long Covid constitutes a medical and socioeconomic challenge to health systems around the globe. While the true extent of this problem cannot yet be fully evaluated, recent data suggests that up to 20% of people with confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 suffer from clinically relevant symptoms of Long Covid several weeks to months after the acute phase. The clinical presentation is highly variable with the main symptoms being chronic fatigue, dyspnea and cognitive symptoms. Extracorporeal apheresis has been suggested to alleviate symptoms of Long Covid. Thus, numerous patients are currently treated with apheresis. However, at present there is no data from randomized controlled trials available to confirm the efficacy. Therefore, physicians rely on the experience of practitioners and centers performing this treatment. Here, we summarize clinical experience on extracorporeal apheresis in patients with Long Covid from centers across Germany.

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Long covid and apheresis: a miracle cure sold on a hypothesis of hope

Cited by 2 publications

References 19 publications

Clinical improvement of Long-COVID is associated with reduction in autoantibodies, lipids, and inflammation following therapeutic apheresis

Clinical improvement of Long-COVID is associated with reduction in autoantibodies, lipids, and inflammation following therapeutic apheresis

Post COVID and Apheresis – Where are we Standing?

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