Complications of COVID-19. The organism can attack itself. Even necrosis as a result

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COVID-19 infection can cause the body to attack itself, researchers from Chicago say. The result can be rheumatological problems that require lifelong treatment, but also the so-called. “Covid fingers” or gangrene.

1. Some people develop more severe and long-lasting musculoskeletal complications, such as RA, covid fingers, nerve damage, thromboembolic complications and even gas gangrene.
2. Radiologist: Imaging tests can help explain why a patient has prolonged musculoskeletal symptoms associated with the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection
3. Radiologists may even suggest the diagnosis of COVID-19 on the basis of imaging the musculoskeletal system
4. You can find more such stories on the Onet homepage.

“Coronavirus can cause the body to attack itself”

Scientists are still interested in the fact how our immune system reacts to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection. It is known that the development and severity of the disease largely depends on it.

In late 2020, reports appeared suggesting that the body may attack itself instead of SARS-CoV-2. Based on the research, researchers from Yale University suspected that patients with severe COVID-19 developed autoantibodies that, instead of fighting the virus, destroy their own immune system and organs.

1. More on this in the article: COVID-19 a type of autoimmune disease? Disturbing findings

Recall that autoantibodies are associated with autoimmune (autoimmune) diseases. So far, it is not known exactly why some are developing them. It is possible that it is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. However, the cause of diseases of the immune system is not only an incorrect, i.e. too aggressive reaction of the immune system. They can also be affected by viral infections.

Now the topic of the autoimmune reaction of the organism attacked by SARS-CoV-2 was brought up by scientists from Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. Their research focused on the musculoskeletal problems associated with COVID-19 infection. While muscle or joint pain is quite common in the case of SARS-CoV-2 infection, some people develop more severe and long-lasting complications, such as rheumatoid arthritis or the so-called “Covid fingers”.

“ We realized that the coronavirus could cause the body to attack itself in different ways, ” admits Northwestern Medicine radiologist Dr. Swati Deshmukh. What problems were observed in patients?

1. What do “covid fingers” look like? A Polish doctor published photos from the HED

Effects of COVID-19: hematomas, edema, damaged nerves, even gangrene

In a study (published on February 17 in the peer-reviewed journal Skeletal Radiology), Northwestern Medicine researchers reported on the condition of patients who came to the hospital from May to December 2020.

– Many patients with COVID-19-related musculoskeletal disorders recover. In some, however, the symptoms become serious, are a source of great anxiety for the patient, and hinder everyday functioning. All this prompts us to seek medical help and, consequently, order imaging tests (including MRI, ultrasound) – says Dr. Ashmukh. – Thanks to them, we can check whether, for example, COVID-19-related muscle and joint pains are body pains similar to those we observe during the flu, or maybe something more insidious – he explains. In other words, imaging can help explain why a patient has prolonged musculoskeletal symptoms over the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

1. Muscle pain during COVID-19. «He was so strong I couldn’t touch myself»

Imaging tests showed swelling, tissue inflammation, hematomas (a build-up of blood), and even gangrene (i.e. necrosis of muscles and connective tissue, also known as gangrene). “Nerves are damaged in some patients, while in others the problem is impaired blood flow (clots),” says Dr. Ashmukh.

Musculoskeletal complications of COVID-19. Problems in diagnosing

As Swati Deshmukh points out, in patients who did not know that they had contracted the coronavirus, radiologists may even suggest the diagnosis of COVID-19 on the basis of imaging the musculoskeletal system. However, it is important for doctors to know what is happening to the patient in order to be able to make the correct diagnosis and implement the correct treatment. And as Deshmukh notes, there are often problems with this.

1. Complications after COVID-19. What are the symptoms and what tests should be done after the disease?

– Some doctors recommend imaging of patients with covid finger symptoms, but how do you read the results when there is no literature on imaging complications of COVID-19 in the feet and soft tissues? How do you find something if you don’t know what to look for? – he asks rhetorically. “That’s why our study discusses the different types of musculoskeletal abnormalities that radiologists should look for,” he emphasizes.

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