Similar Autonomic Nervous System Problems in Long COVID and ME/CFS
Paper Title: Shared autonomic phenotype of long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.
Plain-Language Summary
In this study, researchers examined the similarities between Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), two conditions with overlapping symptoms and post-infectious onset. They conducted various autonomic tests on patients with Long COVID, ME/CFS, and healthy controls to analyze differences in autonomic function, neuropathy, and exercise responses.
Key Findings
- Both Long COVID and ME/CFS patients demonstrated reduced orthostatic cerebral blood flow velocity and autonomic dysfunction.
- Patients with these conditions also showed small fiber neuropathy, postural tachycardia syndrome, and preload failure.
- Laboratory tests could not distinguish between Long COVID and ME/CFS.
- Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome patients exhibited more severe peripheral neurodegeneration compared to the Long COVID and ME/CFS groups.
Study Type
This retrospective study compared autonomic function and related parameters in Long COVID and ME/CFS patients, healthy controls, and individuals with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
What This Means (and Doesn’t Mean)
The findings suggest that Long COVID and ME/CFS share common abnormalities in autonomic function, cerebrovascular blood flow regulation, and small fiber neuropathy. However, the study does not establish a definitive link between these conditions or clarify their shared underlying mechanisms.
Source
Disclaimer
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