Long Covid: doctors find ‘antibody signature’ for patients most at risk

[helvella]

The Guardian today has an article on long Covid. However, it also specifically refers to myalgic encephalomyelitis, or ME, which affects all too many members. That is why I am posting.

I'd be interested to know if anyone who suffers ME has ever had IgM and/or IgC antibodies measured?

Long Covid: doctors find ‘antibody signature’ for patients most at risk

Low levels of certain antibodies found to be more common in those who go on to develop long Covid

Blood tests on the participants showed that those who developed long Covid – also known as post-acute Covid-19 syndrome (Pacs) – tended to have low levels of the antibodies IgM and IgG3. When Covid strikes, IgM ramps up rapidly, while IgG antibodies rise later and provide longer-term protection.

theguardian.com/society/202...

Full paper freely accessible here:

Cervia, C., Zurbuchen, Y., Taeschler, P. et al. Immunoglobulin signature predicts risk of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Nat Commun 13, 446 (2022). doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-...

nature.com/articles/s41467-...

[Sparklingsunshine]

HiI saw that article in the Guardian, interesting that they were looking at patients with asthma as well as low antibody levels, I wasn't sure if they were saying being asthmatic was a risk factor for long covid.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Sparklingsunshine]

Yes - they were.

[Localhero]

Thanks for sharing this helvella

I have an ME/post viral fatigue diagnosis but have never been tested for these. How would you do it?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Localhero]

I really don't know anything about testing but this link describes the tests:

labtestsonline.org.uk/tests...

[Localhero in reply to helvella]

Thank you.

Just done a search. Turns out Medichecks have such a test. Doubtless other testing places do too.

medichecks.com/products/imm...

[Timetraveler67 in reply to Localhero]

Please could you tell me if you saw a price for the test as I’m thinking of getting it done thank you

[Localhero in reply to Timetraveler67]

£92 I believe.

[Timetraveler67 in reply to Localhero]

Thank you

[Gcart]

My thoughts are this . Any serious infection in the past , not necessarily Covid, left it’s mark on many people before. It’s only now being taken seriously.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Gcart]

I rather agree. Medicine has always focussed on acute issues. Things that appear to be mendable, medicable, etc. Broken arm - no problem once it has set. Bad cut - no problem once stitched and grown back. Bad infection - no problem once it has cleared up.

The long-term impacts are rarely even noticed, let alone addressed.

(I write as someone currently in the throes of recovery from shingles - at least it is recognized as being due to chickenpox.)

[bookish]

Thanks for that. I have had IgG, IgA and IgM tested plus IgG4 (by NHS - all 'normal'), but only after showing other +ve antibodies (anticardiolipin). I have a fibro not an ME diagnosis, but likely post viral autoimmunity (EBV - no idea if they were tested then, it was 38 years ago, so unlikely). (Hope you are improving - does B12 help you?)

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to bookish]

Thank you!

I take oral B12 very regularly. Difficult to tell - with some things, like a cold, you know what to expect. But not with this.

[bookish in reply to helvella]

I should say I've no personal experience, just friends who have found B12 helpful with some of the nerve symptoms. As there is a demyelination process, B12/folate, especially methyl forms if you can tolerate, seems reasonably logical. Also B1, B6 (not too much) and vit C. B12 and methylfolate stopped me bouncing off the walls and suffering vertigo, so I may be overly enthusiastic about both! Best wishes

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

There has now also been a BBC Radio 4 program:

BBC Inside Science

Predicting Long Covid, and the Global Toll of Antimicrobial Resistance

bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0013rp4

Not sure about availability outside the UK.

Sparklingsunshine bookish Gcart Localhero Timetraveler67

[tattybogle in reply to helvella]

off to have a listen now .. thankyou for letting us know.

[Localhero]

Thanks for sharing this. Will listen with interest.