ME/CFS is a multi-system disorder, with dysregulation of the HPA axis and of metabolism of the central nervous system and of body systems generally. The range of abnormal responses includes:
1/
-alteration of autonomic nervous system function
-lasting adaptations in energy metabolism and the immune response
-orthostatic intolerance with reduction in cerebral blood flow on tilt testing
-variations in cortisol levels associated with increased fatigue. #pwME
2/
-disorganized circadian rhythms
-increased immune system activation as shown for example by increased pro-inflammatory cytokines and prolonged inflammatory responses
-alterations in muscle anaerobic threshold
-abnormal recovery after activity with post-exertional malaise #pwME
3/
-central sensitization
-changes in grey and white matter in the brain
-anatomical, physiological and electrical abnormalities in the brain
-chronic activation of the immune system, including autoantibodies directed at the central and autonomic nervous systems #pwME
4/
-impaired energy metabolism with associated oxidative stress
-dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system
-abnormalities of the gut microbiome
44 countries have experienced a 10-fold increase in at least 13 infectious diseases compared to pre-pandemic rates, including RSV, cholera, measles, influenza, chickenpox, tuberculosis (TB), and others. 2/
While some (like TB) may be related to declining vaccination rates, COVID impacts the others.
"Immune mechanisms [like] a period of increased vulnerability to other infections following acute COVID infection" is a major contributor, esp irt respiratory infections in children 3/
Michael Peluso (@MichaelPelusoMD) introduces CHIIME, which adds an arm of ME/CFS patients to the LIINC study - will include PET imaging and tissue biopsy analysis, gut biopsies:
Phenotyping with patient-reported and objective clinical measures:
Incredible visit Thursday to the opening of Mount Sinai’s Cohen Center for Recovery from Complex Chronic Illness, led by the renowned @PutrinoLab! #LongCovid 1/
The Center is incredible and truly blew me away - designed on so many levels with patients in mind, with top notch care, using many of the most advanced tools available 2/
Some of the many tools patients are assessed with include:
The fibrin also:
-promotes neuroinflammation & neuronal loss post infection
-promotes innate immune activation in the brain & lungs independent of active infection
-downregulated JAK-STAT pathway & targets of p38 MAP kinase, pathways that regulate NK cell activation #LongCovid 2/
They used a monoclonal antibody targeting the fibrin domain, and found it protected against microglial activation & neuronal injury, as well as from thromboinflammation in the lung after infection! #LongCovid 3/
I've been doing #TheNicotineTest (via 7mg patches) for a month now & it has greatly improved my quality of life.
Major caveat: I'm on ivabradine. The nicotine increases heart rate, & I wouldn't recommend to anyone w POTS who isn't on beta-blockers or ivabradine. #LongCovid 1/
The biggest change is feeling like I have more *oxygen* circulating in my body - the weird altitude-sickness feeling is lessened.
Major improvements to cognition/awareness (esp executive functioning & processing), and improved physical capacity and overall baseline. 2/
The first tolerance break I felt more air hunger and worse baseline than pre-nicotine, but every other tolerance break has been equal or better than pre-nicotine.
It feels like an excellent symptom management tool, but *not* a cure. 3/
This could cause additional impacts like deficits in platelet energy metabolism, or hormonal dysregulation (because platelets carry serotonin) #LongCovid