“Findings emphasize that Covid-19’s myocardial pathology predominantly arises from fibrin thrombi within the coronary MICROVASCULAR network, especially in the abluminal spaces.
➡️This pathological process leads to myocardial fibre injury, necrosis, and ischemic changes( = fibrosis), contributing to both the acute symptoms and long-term sequelae (Long Covid).”
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.
“About 20% of my young patients are showing evidence of increased clotting as part of the baseline lab panels.
Never used to see this.”
“Medical images show us that the severe lung disease of #COVID-19 is the opposite of influenza - it occupies a different anatomical compartment in the lungs. All of this means there is no reason to expect that the later phases of COVID-19 should be anything like influenza.”
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
Great analysis thread:
“SIGNIFICANT NEW STUDY PUBLISHED TODAY IN NATURE!
Fibrin ‘binds to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein,’ forming clots that ‘drive systemic thromboinflammation and neuropathology,’ and it happens ‘independently of active infection.’
Simplified breakdown of the paper below!
Latest paper from Dr Robin Kerr & me: #LongCovid is primarily a Spike protein Induced Thrombotic Vasculitis https://researchsquare.com/article/rs-2939263/v1 Here we proposed that long covid is primarily a spike protein-induced thrombotic vasculitis, & we use Robin as a supporting case study 🧵 #TeamClots
Even mild Covid can increase your chance of blood clots after the initial infection. *all images available as editable, printable files, DM for info.
"I hope to god I'm wrong. I've never wanted to be more wrong in my life.... Worst case scenario... we are going to see a tsunami of cardiovascular disease over the next few decades." #LongCOVID
From 2020: "COVID-19 can be considered a vascular disease with regards to serious complications and causes of mortality...blood clots have emerged as the common factor unifying many of the symptoms initially attributed without an explanation to COVID-19."
Analysis thread on Twitter: The persistent excess of arterial and venous blood clots after Covid at 1 year compared with controls https://ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.122.060785 @CircAHA by @jonathanasterne and colleagues