Covid-19 and Autoimmunity

[Sue (Ayt)]

We have several threads about the growing problem of autoimmune diseases, and the huge spectrum of labeled new "diseases" that have cropped up in recent years. This new pandemic almost seems to be manifesting as a mother-load of autoimmune disease instigators, judging by the growing number of symptoms being attributed to covid-19.

Makes one wonder if indeed this virus was manufactured, could new "diseases" be part of the motive for its release? (I noticed the two articles below upon doing a google news search on autoimmunity yesterday.)

Coronavirus-induced autoimmunity

Clin Immunol. 2021 Feb 18:108694. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2021.108694. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The pandemic of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by a new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has spotlighted the link between viral infection and autoimmunity. In this review, we focus on coronavirusinduced autoimmunity based on evidence from experimental animal models, SARSCoV infection with in vitro studies of molecular mimicry and COVID-19 with several clinical reports of autoimmune manifestations of this disease. Further studies will be needed to better characterize the role of SARS-CoV-2 in the development of autoimmunity.

https://www.docwirenews.com/abstracts/coronavirus-induced-autoimmunity/

------------------
The SARS-CoV-2 as an instrumental trigger of autoimmunity

Autoimmun Rev. 2021 Feb 18:102792. doi: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102792. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Autoimmunity may be generated by a variety of factors by creating a hyper-stimulated state of the immune system. It had been established long ago that viruses are a substantial component of environmental factors that contribute to the production of autoimmune antibodies, as well as autoimmune diseases. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are viruses that withhold these autoimmune abilities. In a similar manner, SARS-CoV-2 may be counted to similar manifestations, as numerous records demonstrating the likelihood of COVID-19 patients to develop multiple types of autoantibodies and autoimmune diseases. In this review, we focused on the association between COVID-19 and the immune system concerning the tendency of patients to develop over 15 separate types of autoantibodies and above 10 distinct autoimmune diseases. An additional autoimmunity manifestation may be one of the common initial symptoms in COVID-19 patients, anosmia, the complete loss of the ability to sense smell, and other olfactory alterations. We summarize current knowledge on principal mechanisms that may contribute to the development of autoimmunity in the disease: the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to hyper-stimulate the immune system, induce excessive neutrophil extracellular traps formation with neutrophil-associated cytokine responses and the molecular resemblance between self-components of the host and the virus. Additionally, we will examine COVID-19 potential risk on the new-onsets of autoimmune diseases, such as antiphospholipid syndrome, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Kawasaki disease and numerous others. It is of great importance to recognize those autoimmune manifestations of COVID-19 in order to properly cope with their outcomes in the ongoing pandemic and the long-term post-pandemic period. Lastly, an effective vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 may be the best solution in dealing with the ongoing pandemic. We will discuss the new messenger RNA vaccination strategy with an emphasis on autoimmunity implications.

https://www.docwirenews.com/abstracts/the-sars-cov-2-as-an-instrumental-trigger-of-autoimmunity/

--------------

I have also noticed many biz/investment recommendations for investing in the fast growing autoimmunity drug markets, like this link:
Autoimmune Disease Diagnosis Market Changing Dynamics Of Competition With Forecast To 2030

Market Industry Reports (MIR) has published a new report titled “Autoimmune Disease Diagnosis Market- Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2019–2030.” According to the report, the Global Autoimmune Disease Diagnosis Market is estimated to account for over US$ 3.5 billion in 2019. It is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.6% CAGR from 2019 to 2030.

The steady growth of the autoimmune disease diagnosis market can be attributed to the rising incidences of autoimmune diseases worldwide, especially in the U.S., wherein, it is considered to be the major health crisis. According to Bingham Healthcare organization, more than 50 million Americans suffer from one or more autoimmune diseases. According to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Women’s Health, autoimmune diseases and disorders are ranked in the first position in the top ten list. Along with its increase in awareness among people regarding autoimmune diseases through different research programs and education is helping people to treat the autoimmune diseases at early stage. Also, governments and NGOs are involved in creating awareness among people. Advancements in diagnostic technology along with improvements in laboratory automation are also driving market growth. Rising access to medical insurance will further boost market growth of the market significantly.

https://bisouv.com/uncategorized/113730/autoimmune-disease-diagnosis-market-changing-dynamics-of-competition-with-forecast-to-2030/

[Sue (Ayt)]

The trend now seems to be leading to what they are calling "Post-Covid Syndrome" or "long-haulers", not unlike lymes, fibromylagia, and other ongoing symptomatic conditions that have cropped up.

Coronavirus symptoms: Mysterious, scary symptoms persist long after initial COVID-19 infection


Medical experts and researchers are now scrambling to find the triggers and best treatments for those who can't seem to get better from this post-viral syndrome.

The unusual symptoms include brain fog, loss of sense or smell, headaches, fevers and chronic fatigue. Some of the more severe ailments being reported are spiking blood pressure, racing heart beats and blood clots.

Elizabeth Moore from Northwest Indiana is one of those patients. Months after getting over COVID-19 she started having frightening, unexplained symptoms.

"I could feel it in my body out of nowhere, this sort of buzzing, rushing sensation, tingling in my arms, especially in my left but it was on both sides," she said.

The 43-year-old wife, mother and lawyer said she never had medical issues until now.

She said she would try to sleep, but the tingling sensation would jolt her awake and leave her gasping for air. Moore said it would feel as if someone was pouring ice cold water down her back. Her heart would race and her blood pressure would spike to dangerous levels.

"I truly thought I had a heart attack or a stroke, like that's what it felt like to me. It was terrifying," she said.

Moore said she's also suffering from symptoms ranging from extreme fatigue, brain fog and, most recently, intense gastrointestinal issues.

She's been to the emergency room twice with no resolutions. One doctor told her she might just be suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.

Moore and other frustrated patients are joining online forums and social media sites to find support, validation and answers.

Diana Berrent is the founder of one such site, called Survivor Corps. (https://www.survivorcorps.com)

"Over and over and over again, people are being turned away by their doctors, being given diagnoses of anxiety. And when their lab reports are saying nothing of the kind," she said.

Survivor Corps is a grassroots organization with an estimated 80,000 members on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/COVID19survivorcorps/).

Berrent, a New York photographer, started the non-profit after posting about her own COVID-19 journey. She discovered there were many people who were feeling anxious and alone as they were dealing with the virus.

She said the group's core mission is to connect the survivor community with the opportunity to donate plasma and support scientific research related to COVID-19.

"We have sort of unintentionally created the world's greatest data set on survivors, that is being recorded in real time," she said.

Read the full COVID-19 "Long Hauler" Symptoms Survey Report here (https://dig.abclocal.go.com/wls/documents/2020/072720-wls-covid-symptom-study-doc.pdf)

Results of a survey conducted by the group and analyzed by researcher Natalie Lambert, PhD, at the Indiana University Medical School was just released. It finds "long hauler" symptoms are far more numerous than what is currently listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. The Survivor Corps list is extensive.

"Doing these sorts of analysis projects, this is just the first of many that we will be putting out and disseminating. We are an open source from beginning to end, so we will be disseminating this to the entire medical community. We want doctors to be aware of this, we want patients to be aware of this, it will be available for everybody to download on our website," said Berrent.

With so many unknowns about a virus only discovered about seven months ago, some researchers said they are open to crowdsourced information and collaboration.

The CDC just acknowledged in a new report that one-third of COVID-19 patients who were not hospitalized may experience long term symptoms weeks after their initial illness.

Earlier in July a study in JAMA Network (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2768351) analyzed a little over 140 patients in Italy. It found nearly 90% of patients who recovered from COVID-19 reported some kind of lingering symptom, including breathing issues and fatigue.

"The virus should not be taken lightly, it's causing a lot of damage in multiple different organ systems. And so, it's not surprising that people have symptoms that persist for extended periods," said Dr. Avindra Nath, Clinical Director of the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

He said it is too early to reach any conclusions, including whether the lingering issues will be permanent.

Nath is launching several studies at the National Institutes of Health to look at the immune systems of patients and study the neurological complications of the virus.

"We're going to try to figure out how much of that may be coming from a deranged immune system and how much of that may be coming through persistent viral infection," he said.

In Chicago, the Neuro COVID-19 Clinic at Northwestern Memorial Hospital is one of only a handful of medical centers dedicated to studying and treating these long term effects.

Dr. Igor Koralnik, chief of Infectious Diseases and Global Neurology at Northwestern Medicine, said the virus can start an inflammatory response in the body that can lead to a multitude of different symptoms.

He said other causes can be a direct invasion of the nervous system by the virus or a post-infectious autoimmune manifestation.

Koralnik said the clinic is providing care for patients who experience side effects and is also studying the long-term effects COVID-19 can have on the brain, nervous system and muscles.

"And so we are learning by following them over time, to see how long those complications are, and how to manage them In the meantime," he explained.

And, he added, "The COVID-19 Clinic is open to everyone from all over the US, and we can accommodate people in televisits or in-person visits as they prefer."

Moore discovered the clinic in a support group posting and just became a patient.

"Finding Northwestern was a relief, just to have, at least, someone besides being on a social media group, have a doctor say you're not crazy," she said.

She wants other patients who might be feeling hopeless to know that they are not alone.

"Now that we're starting to get, you know, doctors on board, who are willing to research and look into what's going on I think that's a really positive thing and you just need to keep moving in that direction," said Moore.

In the UK, a group of long haulers started the website, LongCovidSOS (https://www.longcovidsos.org) to find answers.
https://abc7chicago.com/health/covid-19-patients-report-persistent-mysterious-symptoms-long-after-1st-bout-with-virus/6337918/ (https://abc7chicago.com/health/covid-19-patients-report-persistent-mysterious-symptoms-long-after-1st-bout-with-virus/6337918/)

[Sue (Ayt)]

This older thread on autoimmune diseases includes a quite alarming video that I watched half-way through last night:
Why we are ALL sick - Dr R.E. Tent: It’s not Autoimmune – You Have Viruses! (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?54590-Why-we-are-ALL-sick-Dr-R.E.-Tent-It--s-not-Autoimmune----You-Have-Viruses-&p=619799&viewfull=1#post619799)
(video copied below)

r8FCJ_VPyns

And we also have this thread linking things once again to vaccines:
Peer reviewed study confirms vaccines causing increase in autoimmune disorders (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?71537-Peer-reviewed-study-confirms-vaccines-causing-increase-in-autoimmune-disorders&highlight=autoimmune)

And then we also have Greybeard's thread that just may give some ideas on what to do about this growing problem:
Cure any Autoimmune Disease (https://projectavalon.net/forum4/showthread.php?67185-Cure-any-Autoimmune-Disease&highlight=autoimmune)

[Sue (Ayt)]

With so many symptoms being reported now, it seems pretty clear that the focus needs to be on ways to strengthen our immune systems to optimally handle strange pathogens. (The second article below could include a whole lot of people noticing strange symptoms...)
--------------------

"Still in his first week of having coronavirus, President Donald Trump's doctors described him as being not "out of the woods." The same could be said for thousands of COVID patients who still experience symptoms months after contracting the virus. "A study of 143 people in Rome's biggest hospital, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, followed hospital patients after they were discharged," reports the BBC. "It showed 87% had at least one symptom nearly two months later and more than half still had fatigue." Here is the study's list of symptoms in order from least common to most common"
17 Sure Signs You've Had COVID Already (slideshow) (https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/17-sure-signs-you-ve-had-covid-already/ss-BB19KuqV)

Ever since COVID-19 reared its ugly head and upended our world, long-lasting symptoms of the virus have been varied and hard to pinpoint—until now. "A survey conducted by Dr. Natalie Lambert of Indiana University School of Medicine and Survivor Corps analyzed the long-term experiences COVID-19 survivors are having with the virus. The COVID-19 'Long Hauler' Symptoms Survey Report identified 98 long-lasting symptoms."
98 Symptoms Coronavirus Patients Say They've Had
"Long haulers" report a wide variety of painful side effects from COVID-19. (https://www.eatthis.com/covid-19-signs/)