The study — conducted by researchers from Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai before COVID-19 vaccines were available — involved 177 healthcare workers with a previously confirmed COVID-19 infection. Researchers compared blood samples from this cohort to those taken from a healthy control group of 53 people before the pandemic.
All of the participants with a history of COVID-19, including those who had mild symptoms or no symptoms, had elevated levels of self-attacking autoantibodies up to six months after they had fully recovered, the findings showed.
“We found signals of autoantibody activity that are usually linked to chronic inflammation and injury involving specific organ systems and tissues such as the joints, skin and nervous system,” said Susan Cheng, MD, study co-author and director of the Institute for Research on Healthy Aging at Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute.
Overall, researchers observed a higher number of elevated autoantibodies in men compared to women. The team hopes to expand the study to determine whether certain types of autoantibodies are persistent in people with long COVID-19 and whether autoantibodies are generated at similar levels among people with breakthrough infections
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
