Mount Sinai Validates Autoimmunity Link in 87 Long COVID Cases, Pointing to Targeted Treatments
Updated
Updated · Mount Sinai · May 28
Mount Sinai Validates Autoimmunity Link in 87 Long COVID Cases, Pointing to Targeted Treatments
3 articles · Updated · Mount Sinai · May 28
Summary
Cell published Mount Sinai-led findings showing autoantibodies drive debilitating long COVID symptoms in a subset of patients, giving researchers a measurable marker to identify who may benefit from treatment.
Researchers purified antibodies from 87 people with long COVID and infused them into healthy mice, validating autoimmunity as a major contributor to symptom burden rather than a single explanation for all cases.
IVIG and FcRn inhibitors are already used in some long COVID patients, but inconsistent results had dampened industry enthusiasm; the study suggests those therapies may work best in patients with circulating autoantibodies.
Long COVID affects an estimated 4% to 20% of people infected with COVID-19, and the team said the findings could also sharpen interest in options such as CAR-T cell therapy and plasmapheresis.
The study also raised a public-health concern: the U.K. bars people with long COVID from donating blood, while the U.S. still allows it despite researchers' warning that plasma could pose risks.
Is the US blood supply spreading Long COVID symptoms through transfusions?
Have scientists found the key to reversing Long COVID with 'blood washing'?
Landmark Discovery: Autoimmunity Identified as Key Driver in Long COVID, Paving Way for Targeted Treatments and Policy Change
Overview
A major breakthrough has revealed that autoimmunity is a key factor behind Long COVID, with new research showing that the immune system can mistakenly attack the body’s own tissues. Studies from Yale and Mount Sinai found that autoantibodies, which target healthy cells, are linked to symptoms like pain, fatigue, and brain fog, especially through effects on the nervous system. This discovery marks a turning point, offering hope for targeted diagnostic tests and treatments. It also connects Long COVID to other post-viral illnesses, suggesting that understanding autoimmunity could help develop better care for millions affected by persistent symptoms.