In this second in the series of expert interviews, I talk with Dr Bruce Patterson about the pathology of Long Covid, his latest research results which suggest residual viral protein is responsible for triggering long haulers symptoms, and just what the implications of that might be for treatment and recovery.
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The Long Covid Handbook (Oct 2022), by Gez Medinger and Professor Danny Altmann and published by Penguin Books is now available in paperback, ebook and audiobook. A singular resource that brings together everything patients, clinicians and academics have learnt about the condition since early 2020, as well as lessons from sufferers and researchers of ME/CFS and other chronic conditions. It offers world leading expert advice on understanding, managing and treating Long Covid. The Long Covid Handbook is available from the following links:
US: https://a.co/d/0gvkJCU
UK: https://amzn.eu/d/9KjurGb
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References:
Patterson et al, paper 1:
https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.12.16.423122v1
Cheung et al, Viral debris in gut and liver:
https://gut.bmj.com/content/early/2021/06/01/gutjnl-2021-324280
0:00 Introduction
0:25 Dr Patterson's background
2:43 Viral debris
6:52 Where is it coming from?
9:39 Is it specific to long haulers?
13:30 Why so many long haulers from wave 1?
16:35 Other evidence of viral persistence
19:20 The role of the gut
21:10 What about auto antibodies?
22:31 What role do hormones play?
24:53 Treatment
28:53 Can we treat the cause?
31:00 Do steroids have a role in treatment?
32:53 Dream research project
35:00 The third paper
35:47 Conclusion