Nature microbiology

Long-term heart symptoms after COVID-19 are linked to low levels of immune signals that affect heart cell function

Long Covid Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated

Abstract

An estimated 65 million people globally suffer from post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), with many experiencing cardiovascular symptoms.

  • Individuals with prolonged exhibited a blood signature associated with inflammation.
  • Trace-level pro-inflammatory cytokines were found in the plasma of donors with PASC-CVS 18 months after infection.
  • These cytokines influenced the function of primary human heart cells.
  • Plasma proteomics indicated elevated levels of complement and coagulation proteins in patients with PASC-CVS.
  • Chronic inflammation may play a significant role in the cardiovascular symptoms associated with PASC.

Simplified

Key numbers

4 of 14
Cytokine Increase
Elevated trace-level cytokines detected in plasma.
>400
Differentially Expressed Genes
Number of differentially expressed genes identified in PASC individuals.

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Funding

Competing interests

Competing interests: K.R.S. has historically been a consultant for Sanofi, Pfizer, Roche and NovoNordisk. The opinions and data presented in this manuscript are of the authors and are independent of these relationships. The remaining authors declare no competing interests.
PubMed

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