Scientists in Zurich have developed a method to identify patients most susceptible to long-term COVID infections. They analyzed blood samples from those who suffered from the effects of the disease for several months and found that these individuals had lower levels of certain antibodies compared to those who recovered quickly.
By combining the number of antibodies with other information, such as the patient's age, their specific COVID symptoms, and whether they suffer from asthma, a pattern was developed that can indicate individuals at low, medium, or high risk of developing long-term COVID.
Immunology professor Onur Buyukan stated, "We believe that our findings and the identification of the immune globulin fingerprint will help in the early recognition of patients at increased risk for developing long-term COVID infections, which in turn will facilitate targeted research and treatments for long-term COVID."
When a person contracts COVID, the immune response includes the production of immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgA, and IgG, which are glycoprotein molecules produced by white blood cells. IgM antibodies respond quickly to address immediate infections, while IgG antibodies provide long-term protection.
Dr. Carlo Servia, the lead author of the study, noted that this new discovery is expected to improve care for those suffering from long-term COVID infections, as well as encourage vulnerable groups, such as asthma patients, to get vaccinated and thus prevent them from developing long-term infections, according to the Metro website.
