The vascular endothelium, which normally maintains blood flow and resists clotting and inflammation, can become overactive during COVID-19.
This overactivation can lead to multiorgan complications and long-term effects associated with Long Covid.
“Disrupted endothelial function underlies the multiorgan complications of COVID-19”
Using stem-cell-derived vascular cells, researchers found SARS-CoV-2 infects smooth muscle cells (SMCs), not endothelial cells.
Infected SMCs cause inflammation and clotting factors, explaining vascular issues seen in severe COVID-19 cases.
Long Covid patients exhibited persistent endothelial dysfunction.
This was indicated by lower venular flicker-induced dilation (vFID), narrower central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE), and lower arteriolar-venular ratio (AVR).
“Our results demonstrate that prolonged endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of PCS, and impairments of the microcirculation seem to explain ongoing symptoms in patients.”
SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers pro-atherogenic inflammatory responses in human coronary vessels
Autopsy study in patients with COVID shows that: SARS-CoV-2 infects, replicates and persists in Macrophages within the coronary vasculature Since CARDIAC MACROPHAGES have a half-life of 8.8years they would act as VIRAL RESERVOIRS in Atherosclerotic plaques
No Amount of Hand-Washing Can Make COVID-19 a Seasonal Virus
"The selection of words modulates the message...terms such as “seasonal”, “like a cold”, and “like the flu” can be selected by writers to...lull the reader into a false sense of security... COVID-19 is not primarily a respiratory infection. This virus can cause a systemic disease with far-reaching effects on the body, particularly blood vessels. Once SARS-CoV-2 enters the body, the virus can affect the ...blood vessels, causing inflammation and damage.
