Overview

• Karolinska Institutet and Cardiff University researchers identified blood protein biomarkers associated with severe respiratory symptoms in long COVID patients.
• The study analyzed blood samples from 265 individuals who contracted COVID-19 before vaccines were available, using advanced techniques like flow cytometry.
• These biomarkers are linked to inflammatory pathways responsible for cell death and lung damage, offering insights into persistent respiratory issues.
• The findings create a foundation for developing diagnostic tools and targeted therapies for long COVID, which currently lacks standardized solutions.
• Next steps include studying lung and gastrointestinal tissues to trace the origin of the proteins and assess potential organ damage or inflammation.