Tuesday 11th August 2020
–
There are still many unanswered questions about the corona virus. One of them is why the Covid-19 disease caused by the virus is so severe in some of the infected that it can even lead to death. Researchers may now have found a new answer to this.
A team from the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) is believesthat a certain mechanism of the immune system could play a role in whether Covid-19 is severe or mild in patients. The researchers led by Moritz Leppkes from the Erlangen University Medical Center examined Covid 19 patients who had to be treated in the intensive care unit and found that they had a higher number of certain immune cells, so-called neutrophil granulocytes. In some people, an infection with the coronavirus seems to cause the production of this type of white blood cell to be strongly activated.
According to the researchers, these granylocytes clump together and form mesh-like structures in the blood vessels. Actually, these networks, which are medically connected toNeutrophil Extracellular Traps), capture intruders such as bacteria and viruses and fight them in a targeted manner. This type of special immune response was only discovered in 2004. In the case of Covid-19, however, it could happen more often that the nets quickly clog the fine blood vessels in the lungs and other parts of the body.
These clogged blood vessels cause gas exchange in the lungs or other tissue to come to a standstill and the body can no longer be adequately supplied with oxygen. It comes to a life-threatening condition. Since the process has many similarities with other thromoboses, the researchers speak in the journal “The Lancet” published study from an immune thrombosis.
This type of thrombosis has not been considered in previous treatment in severe Covid 19 cases. But like that “Medical journal“reports, the researchers’ findings could have an impact on future therapy:” The researchers see a treatment approach for severe Covid 19 cases in inhibiting the agglomeration of neutrophils and preventing the increased formation of NETs. ” For example, the drugs dexamethasone or heparin help. “Heparin is already used in Covid-19 patients to prevent thrombosis. However, it is possible that the standard dose is not sufficient to prevent thrombosis by the NET, “said the journal.
–
