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Ach T, Ben Haj Slama N, Gorchane A, Ben Abdelkrim A, Garma M, Ben Lasfar N, Bellazreg F, Debbabi W, Hachfi W, Chadli Chaieb M, Zaouali M, Letaief A, Ach K. Explaining Long COVID: A Pioneer Cross-Sectional Study Supporting the Endocrine Hypothesis. J Endocr Soc 2024; 8:bvae003. [PMID: 38260089 PMCID: PMC10801829 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvae003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Context In some patients, symptoms may persist after COVID-19, defined as long COVID. Its pathogenesis is still debated and many hypotheses have been raised. Objective Our primary objective was to evaluate the corticotroph and somatotroph functions of patients previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 and experiencing post-COVID-19 syndrome to detect any deficiencies that may explain long COVID. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted including patients who had previously contracted SARS-CoV-2 with a postinfection period of 3 months or less to 15 months, divided into 2 groups. The first group (G1) comprised fully recovered patients, while the second group (G2) included patients experiencing long COVID. The primary outcome was the comparison of corticotroph and somatotroph functions. Results A total of 64 patients were divided into 2 groups, each consisting of 32 patients. G2 exhibited more frequently anterior pituitary deficits compared to G1 (P = .045): for the corticotroph axis (G1: 6.3% vs G2: 28.1%) and for the somatotroph axis (G1: 31.3% vs G2: 59.4%). Baseline cortisol level was significantly lower in G2 (G1: 13.37 µg/dL vs G2: 11.59 µg/dL) (P = .045). The peak cortisol level was also lower in G2 (G1: 23.60 µg/dL vs G2: 19.14 µg/dL) (P = .01). For the somatotroph axis, the insulin growth factor-1 level was lower in G2 (G1: 146.03 ng/mL vs G2: 132.25 ng/mL) (P = .369). The peak growth hormone level was also lower in G2 (G1: 4.82 ng/mL vs G2: 2.89 ng/mL) (P = .041). Conclusion The results showed that long COVID patients in our cohort were more likely to have anterior pituitary deficiencies. The endocrine hypothesis involving anterior pituitary insufficiency can be considered to explain long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taieb Ach
- Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Farhat Hached, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Pathophysiology, L.R. 19ES09, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
| | - Nassim Ben Haj Slama
- Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Farhat Hached, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
| | - Asma Gorchane
- Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Farhat Hached, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
| | - Asma Ben Abdelkrim
- Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Farhat Hached, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
| | - Meriem Garma
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- Infectious Diseases Department, Farhat Hached Hospital, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
| | - Nadia Ben Lasfar
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- Infectious Diseases Department, Farhat Hached Hospital, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
| | - Foued Bellazreg
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- Infectious Diseases Department, Farhat Hached Hospital, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
| | - Widéd Debbabi
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Ibn El Jazzar, Kairouan 4041, Tunisia
| | - Wissem Hachfi
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- Infectious Diseases Department, Farhat Hached Hospital, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
| | - Molka Chadli Chaieb
- Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Farhat Hached, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
| | - Monia Zaouali
- Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Farhat Hached, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Pathophysiology, L.R. 19ES09, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
| | - Amel Letaief
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- Infectious Diseases Department, Farhat Hached Hospital, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
| | - Koussay Ach
- Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Farhat Hached, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
- University of Sousse, Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
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