Long term after effects of covid1/8/2024 The long-term sequelae of these changes have been observed in follow-up studies of survivors of COVID-19, revealing pulmonary radiological abnormalities in 71% of patients and functional abnormalities in 25% of patients 3 mo following COVID-19 infection ( 14).īeyond direct cellular infection, several other mechanisms exist which may explain the pathophysiology leading to COVID-19 multiorgan systemic disorder. Studies early on in the pandemic revealed that endothelial cells had high expression of ACE2 and that COVID-19 infection led to substantial alteration to the integrity of the vessel barrier and promotion of a procoagulative state ( 13). These receptors are expressed in epithelial cells, nasal goblet cells, gastrointestinal epithelial cells, pancreatic β cells, and renal podocytes suggesting that direct tissue damage may be a primary mechanism of the presentation of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which may also contribute to its longer-term complications ( 10– 12). Possible pathophysiological mechanisms may include direct viral tissue damage the entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), is expressed in a variety of locations in the body allowing the virus to enter target cells through activation of its spike protein by transmembrane serine protease 2 ( 8, 9). We also explore several key complications that may arise including cardiovascular, neurological and psychological, hematological, pulmonary, dermatological, and other injuries.Īlthough the exact mechanisms responsible for long-term complications of COVID-19 infection remain unknown, there are a number of pathophysiological mechanisms of the virus that may account for these longer-term complications and sequelae. Herein, we evaluate the pathophysiology of the virus and development of long-haul COVID-19. Although the scope of these long-term complications is wide, specific attributes of patients have been shown to be predictive of which symptoms they develop and for how long ( 7). Previous studies have shown a number of potential late complications possible for COVID-19 infection these include lung fibrosis, venous thromboembolism (VTE), arterial thromboses, cardiac thrombosis and inflammation, stroke, “brain fog,” dermatological complications, and overall mood dysfunctions ( 6). Beyond initial reports of patients feeling fatigued for months following initial infection, long-haul COVID-19 has come to represent wide complications and sequelae of symptoms that may arise ( 5). SARS-CoV-2 is notable in that a number of patients have gone on to develop long-term complications of the virus ( Fig. The clinical presentation of COVID-19 has been shown to vary widely, often with respiratory complications as a major feature. Although the highest mortality rates had been seen primarily in the elderly population, as more of the vulnerable population became vaccinated, the spread of the virus shifted toward an unvaccinated, younger demographic ( 4). Despite vaccination efforts, SARS-CoV-2 has infected over 1.1 million individuals in the United States alone, with a new wave of increasing cases partially due to novel variants, such as the Delta variant of the virus, which are more easily transmissible ( 1– 3). The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has spread across the world.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |