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Matsunaga A, Tsuzuki S, Morioka S, Ohmagari N, Ishizaka Y. Long COVID: current status in Japan and knowledge about its molecular background. Glob Health Med 2022; 4:83-93. [PMID: 35586759 PMCID: PMC9066464 DOI: 10.35772/ghm.2022.01013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Even after recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), patients can experience prolonged complaints, referred to as "long COVID". Similar to reports in Caucasians, a follow-up study in Japan revealed that fatigue, dyspnea, cough, anosmia/dysgeusia, and dyssomnia are common symptoms. Although the precise mode of long COVID remains elusive, multiple etiologies such as direct organ damage by infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), autoimmunity, prolonged inflammatory reactions, and psychiatric impairment seem to be involved. Notably, SARS-CoV-2 is neurotropic, and viral RNA and proteins are continuously detectable in multiple organs, including the brain. Viral proteins exert a number of different toxic effects on cells, suggesting that persistent infection is a key element for understanding long COVID. Here, we first reviewed the current status of long COVID in Japan, and then summarized literature that help us understand the molecular background of the symptoms. Finally, we discuss the feasibility of vaccination as a treatment for patients with long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiro Matsunaga
- Department of Intractable Diseases, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinya Tsuzuki
- AMR Clinical Reference Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Morioka
- Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Norio Ohmagari
- Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukihito Ishizaka
- Department of Intractable Diseases, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Hosseini P, Fallahi MS, Erabi G, Pakdin M, Zarezadeh SM, Faridzadeh A, Entezari S, Ansari A, Poudineh M, Deravi N. Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome and Autoimmune Diseases Following COVID-19: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:804109. [PMID: 35495619 PMCID: PMC9046575 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.804109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to huge concern worldwide. Some SARS-CoV-2 infected patients may experience post–COVID-19 complications such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome, defined by symptoms including fever and elevated inflammatory markers (such as elevation of C reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fibrinogen, procalcitonin test, D-dimer, ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase or IL-6, presence of neutrophilia, lymphopenia, decreased albumin, and multiple organ dysfunction). Post–COVID-19 complications may also manifest as autoimmune diseases such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus. Signaling disorders, increased inflammatory cytokines secretion, corticosteroid use to treat COVID-19 patients, or impaired immune responses are suggested causes of autoimmune diseases in these patients. In this review, we discuss the molecular and pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities for multisystem inflammatory syndrome and autoimmune diseases following SARS-CoV-2 infection with the aim to provide a clear view for health care providers and researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parastoo Hosseini
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Research Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Gisou Erabi
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Majid Pakdin
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Arezoo Faridzadeh
- Department of Immunology and Allergy, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Sarina Entezari
- Student Research Committee, School of Allied Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arina Ansari
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | | | - Niloofar Deravi
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- *Correspondence: Niloofar Deravi,
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