Immunocompromised patients offer clues on chronic Covid

By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Elizabeth Cooney
Published on 2024-01-24 19:00:28

Chronic Covid, a condition where the virus does not leave the body and can sometimes mutate into new variants, is less well known than long Covid. It affects people with compromised immune systems, making them vulnerable to prolonged infections. A recent study published in Science Translational Medicine analyzed the time it takes for people with different levels of immune compromise to clear the virus and how the virus evolves. The study highlighted the spectrum of risk for Covid becoming chronic, with high risk for people with blood cancers requiring bone marrow transplants, lower risk for people taking immune-suppressing drugs for autoimmune illness, and little risk for those with intact immunity.

The study authors, Jacob Lemieux and Jonathan Li, discussed their research and its implications for treatment. They noted the increased risk of viral evolution in immunocompromised groups, particularly in the spike gene, which impacted the efficacy of monoclonal antibody therapies. They also emphasized the need to understand and categorize individuals with varying levels of immuno-compromise to determine the risk of chronic infection.

In addition, the study provides important insights into the evolution of new variants and the challenges faced by immunocompromised individuals. It highlights the need for more data on the best ways to treat patients with immunosuppression, especially those with chronic infection, and the potential for future transmission of evolved variants to the general population.

The research also sheds light on the experiences of immunocompromised individuals as the pandemic continues. Many feel left behind as the general population moves on, and they remain cautious and fearful of going outside, given their higher risk of infection. Despite progress in managing Covid, immunocompromised patients continue to be a significant population of Covid hospitalizations.

Overall, the study underscores the need for tailored treatment approaches for immunocompromised individuals with chronic Covid, and the importance of understanding the risk of viral evolution and transmission in this population.

Read the original article on Africa Health News