Investigation of the long COVID prevalence and its relationship to Epstein-Barr virus reactivation

June 17, 2021 doi: 10.3390 / pathogens10060763

Commentary

Patients with 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have reported experiencing long-term symptoms after resolution of acute illness, including fatigue, brain fog, and rash.

These symptoms have come to be known as the sequelae of COVID-19 as they have long-term consequences.

The purpose of this study was to first determine the long COVID prevalence in 185 randomized COVID-19 patients and then to determine if there was an association between the occurrence of COVID-19 sequelae and reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in 68 patients.

The prevalence of sequelae from the sample was 30.3% (56/185) and included asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.

Seven percent (20/30) of subjects with sequelae tested positive for EBV reactivation based on EBV early antigen-diffusion (EA-D) IgG or EBV positive titers, compared to 10% (2/20) of control subjects.

The difference became significant and a similar ratio was observed in a secondary group of 18 subjects 21-90 days after testing positive for COVID-19, indicating that reactivation may occur immediately or simultaneously with COVID-19 infection.

With this finding, the study results suggest that many sequelae may not be a direct result of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but may be a consequence of COVID-19 inflammation-induced EBV reactivation.