Dr. Romy Kronstein-Wiedemann (Dresden/ DE), Madeleine Teichert (Dresden/ DE), Dr. Sofia Traikov (Dresden/ DE), PD Dr. Stephan Künzel (Dresden/ DE), Dr. Kristin Tausche (Dresden/ DE), Jessica Thiel (Dresden/ DE), Dr. Hesham Yosef (Tutzing/ DE), Prof. Dirk Koschel (Dresden/ DE; Coswig/ DE), Prof. Dr. Torsten Tonn (Dresden/ DE)
Background
Background: The Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was the cause of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Irrespective of the disease severity, a growing number of patients report a delayed state of exhaustion called chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). At least 10% of all COVID-19 patients experience various persistent or new health complaints after SARS-CoV-2 infection lasting longer than three months. In addition to CFS, Long-COVID patients also suffer from dyspnea, anemia and
Methods
others. Recently, we demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2-induced dysregulation in hemoglobin (Hb)- and iron-metabolism contributes to the severe systemic course of COVID-19. Changes in Hb structure may also be significantly involved in the development of Long-COVID symptoms. Therefore, we analyzed Hb- and iron-metabolism in Long-COVID-Patients. Methods: We performed blood gas analysis of more than 20 Long-Covid-19 and control patients. Furthermore, we measured hematological parameters and Raman spectra of red blood cells (RBCs) from peripheral blood of Long-COVID patients and compared those with healthy donors.
Results
Results: Whereas, no differences in the RBC count, Hb content and hematocrit were observed in the blood of Long-COVID patients compared to healthy donors, the amount of COHb was significantly increased. Furthermore, we found significant changes in spin state of the iron in Hb, which were partially comparable to packed RBCs stored for 42 days. In addition, BE- and BI values but not pH were diminished in Long-COVID patients compared to healthy donors, albeit still within the normal range. Lactate levels were also significantly elevated in the blood of Long-COVID patients. Thus, O2Hb was reduced in Long-COVID patients.
Conclusion
Conclusions: Our data shows drastic changes in Hemoglobin–associated vibrational modes in samples of Long-COVID patients. Together with the diminished Acid-base balance and enhance formation of COHb, we suggest an impaired erythrocyte functionality in Long-COVID patients, leading to diminished oxygen supply. This in turn could be an explanation for the CFS and dyspnea as well as anemia. The project was funded by the Roland-Ernst-Stiftung.
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Invited talks abstract/summary