Long COVID Immune Profiling
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Summary
Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) is part of the body's autonomic nervous system(PNS) protects body against inflammation. Study shows that reduced PNS function activity is associated with persistent inflammation. Preliminary data from the studies shows, that post-COVID-19 POTS patients have reduced parasympathetic (PNS) function. Given that the PNS protects against inflammation, this clinical trial aims to prove that post-COVID-19 POTS is caused by reduced PNS activity, which in turn, contributes to persistent inflammation, orthostatic intolerance, and OI symptoms. The study will evaluate immune cell activation in post-COVID-19 POTS and patients with history of COVID-19 infection without sequelae and correlate this with the degree of decreased PNS activity.
Description
COVID-19 infections can cause a disabling syndrome that persists beyond the 3-month convalescence period. The term post-acute COVID-19 syndrome or Long COVID is coined to describe a cluster of symptoms consisting of fatigue, chest pain, reduced exercise tolerance, tachycardia, and cognitive impairment. Persistent tachycardia remains one of the most common complaints, reported in 9% of patients at 6 months post-infection. These symptoms overlap with those present in patients with Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). It is noteworthy that about half of POTS patients also report a h…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Subjects will be 18 years or older, men and women. * History of confirmed COVID-19 infection (positive contact and symptoms, antigen test or PCR). * POTS will be defined as the presence of orthostatic tachycardia (\>30 bpm) and chronic (\>3 months) pre-syncopal symptoms. * Post-COVID-19 POTS will be defined as the presence of orthostatic tachycardia (\>30 bpm) and chronic (\>3 months) pre-syncopal symptoms. Symptoms occurred within 2 months after COVID infection and persistent until enrollment in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals with a history of physician…
Interventions
- Diagnostic TestIL-6
Compare IL-6 level , as a marker of inflammation in all the 3 groups: * POTS patients * post-COVID-19 POTS * gender, age, and BMI-matched controls, with history of COVID-19 infection without sequelae.
- Diagnostic Testcytokines (IL-17, and IFN-ɣ)
Compare Proinflammatory cells and its secreted cytokines (IL-17, and IFN-ɣ) in all the 3 groups: * POTS patients * post-COVID-19 POTS * gender, age, and BMI-matched controls, with history of COVID-19 infection without sequelae
- BehavioralCompass 31
Autonomic symptoms assessment questionnaire (COMPASS 31), in post-COVID-19 POTS and compare with POTS patients
Location
- Cyndya ShibaoNashville, Tennessee