Radiological images confirm âCOVID-19 can cause the body to attack itself
Imaging illustrates severity, long-term prognosis of COVID-19-related muscle, joint pain
MRI of the foot in a patient with severe COVID-19.
Muscle soreness and achy joints are common symptoms among COVID-19 patients. But for some people, symptoms are more severe, long lasting and even bizarre, including rheumatoid arthritis flares, autoimmune myositis or âCOVID toes.âÂ
A new Northwestern Medicine study has, for the first time, confirmed and illustrated the causes of these symptoms through radiological imaging.
âWeâve realized that the COVID virus can trigger the body to attack itself in different ways, which may lead to rheumatological issues that require lifelong management,â said corresponding author Dr. Swati Deshmukh.
COVID can make the body attack itself. Medical imaging shows the results.
With the help of medical imaging, a new study is illustrating for the first time some of the rare consequences of COVID-19: how the disease can trick the body into attacking its own muscles, joints and nerves.
and last updated 2021-03-01 11:06:22-05
SAN DIEGO (KGTV) With the help of medical imaging, a new study is illustrating for the first time some of the rare consequences of COVID-19: how the disease can trick the body into attacking its own muscles, joints and nerves.
The study, published in the journal
My entire body and all the joints in my body were inflamed.
In a new study, researchers at Northwestern University were able to captured images of the long-lasting damage. What we have found is that in some patients with COVID-19, the virus triggers an autoimmune reaction. In other words, the virus tricks the body into attacking itself, said radiologist Dr. Swati Deshmukh. We don t know if this is something that is going to be for as long as I live, next year, two years, five years, said Hodzic.
What researchers do know is the virus has the ability to affect just about every organ system in the body. Long-haulers can experience issues with their brain, heart, kidneys or lungs putting them at risk for complications including heart attacks or strokes. They may also suffer cognitive and neurological impairments for months after the initial virus.
This study followed patients who had a mild case of COVID-19 for up to nine months after recovery - and found about a third of them had persisting symptoms.
Researchers have used radiological imaging to understand why some people have severe musculoskeletal Covid-19 symptoms, and found that the virus can cause the body to attack itself.