Long COVID Patients May Develop
Nerve Damage: Study
According to a new study published in the journal Neurology:
Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, some patients with long COVID may have
long-term nerve damage, leading to fatigue, sensory changes, and pain in the
hands and feet.
The nerve damage, seen even among mild coronavirus cases, appears
to be caused by immunity problems triggered by infection.
In a statement, Anne Louise Oaklander, MD, the lead study author
and a neurologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, said, "This is one of
the early papers looking into causes of long COVID, which will steadily
increase in importance as acute COVID wanes."
"Our findings suggest that some long COVID patients had
damage to their peripheral nerve fibers and that damage to the small-fiber type
of nerve cell may be prominent," she said.
The research team analyzed data from 17 COVID-19 survivors with
lingering symptoms who had no history or risks of neuropathy, nerve damage or
disease. The patients were from 10 states and territories, and all but one had
mild infections.
They found that ten patients — or 59% — had at least one test that
confirmed neuropathy. Two patients had rare neuropathies that affected muscle
nerves, and ten were diagnosed with small-fiber neuropathy, which is a cause of
chronic pain. Fatigue, weakness, changes in their senses, and pain in their
hands and feet were all common symptoms.
For treatment, 11 patients were given immunotherapies such as
corticosteroids or intravenous immunoglobulins, and the five patients who
received repeated immunoglobulin G treatments appeared to benefit. Over time,
52% of patients improved, though none had all of their symptoms go away.
Patients should discuss the possibility of neuropathy with their
doctor, a neurologist, or a neuromuscular specialist if they have long COVID
symptoms that aren't improving or can't be explained otherwise, according to
Oaklander.
"Research from our team and others is clarifying what the
different types of post-COVID neuropathy are and how best to diagnose and treat
them," she said. "Most long COVID neuropathies described so far
appear to reflect immune responses to the virus that went off course."
Oaklander noted that researchers haven't been able to do clinical
trials to evaluate specific post-COVID neuropathy treatments. But some existing
treatments may help.
"Some patients seem to improve from standard treatments for other immune-related neuropathies," she said.