Potential Biomarker for Long Covid Identified in Blood

Dysregulation of the Complement System Could Lead to Diagnostic Test and New Treatment Strategies

Scientists at the University of Zurich have identified a potential biomarker in blood to detect long Covid, finding that people with long Covid exhibited changes to blood serum proteins in the complement system, a network of molecules that participates in the destruction of pathogens.
The study found that the complement system, part of the innate immune system, was dysregulated in people with long Covid, potentially causing damage to the body.
Researchers also found damaged red blood cells and platelets as well as signs of harm to the endothelial cells that line blood vessels in people with long Covid.
The findings suggest that active long Covid is accompanied by a blood protein signature marked by increased complement activation and thromboinflammation, including activated platelets and markers of red blood cell lysis.
The study's findings could lead to the development of a diagnostic test for long Covid and open new avenues for treatment strategies.