According to foreign media BGR reports, more and more survivors of cowid-19 develop symptoms of new coronavirus a few weeks or months after infection clearance, which is informally known as "long cowid". Many studies have shown that patients with "long cowid" may have various symptoms, and doctors have emphasized the severity of this complication of cowid-19.A series of new studies may eventually explain why some people have long cowid. The disease may trigger autoantibodies that harm the body rather than attack the virus.

When the human body defends itself against external factors such as neocoronavirus, it will produce an immune response to get rid of the pathogen. This includes the creation of specific antibodies that neutralize the virus, as white blood cells adapt to recognize the pathogen and fight it again when reinfected. But the New York Times pointed out that a large number of studies have focused on an antibody that will not have any effect on blocking the virus. They are called autoantibodies, and they are part of the immune response in cowid-19, which attacks the patient's own body.

These autoantibodies can persist for several months after infection, which may explain why the symptoms of cowid-19 last so long. This conclusion comes from a limited study and needs more verification. Doctors at Boston Medical Center looked at nine patients with cowid-19, five of whom developed autoantibodies at least seven months after the infection. "It's a signal, it's not certain," Dr. nahid bhadelia warned in a commentary. "We don't know how common it is or whether it can be associated with long covid."

However, the New York Times report points out that bhadelia's work on the autoantibody against covid-19 is not single.

• A study in October showed that 70% of 52 patients with severe cowid - 19 developed autoantibodies against their DNA and proteins that help blood clot.

• In October, a study showed that autoantibodies against carbohydrates were formed in patients with cowid - 19, which may lead to neurological symptoms.

• A study in October also showed that some patients had existing autoantibodies before infection, and then they attacked the immune response to covid-19.

• A study in November showed that autoantibodies in half of the subjects could cause clots and blockages in the blood vessels.

• A December study showed that autoantibodies against cowid-19 target the immune system, brain cells, connective tissue and coagulation factors.

• People with rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases (lupus and scleroderma) are at increased risk of death from cowid-19, according to a study.

• Autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis can lead to an increase in respiratory complications of the new coronavirus, according to a study.

Harvard University immunologist Dr. SHIV pilai told the paper that some of the antibodies may disappear over time. If so, the symptoms may disappear. "That is to say - yes, it would be interesting if long covid could be explained by specific autoantibodies," he added.

In addition, a different immunologist identified a glimmer of hope in commenting on one of the studies. "We're going to learn some basic principles about acute viral infections, which were not easy to study in this way before," Dr. Marion pepper of the University of Washington in Seattle told the paper.