Russian Scientists Manage to Detect Hidden Consequences of COVID-19

Researchers believe that the method of post-COVID diagnosis by scientists from Tyumen Medical University (TyumSMU) will help to identify hidden complications for the vascular system after the coronavirus and personalize rehabilitation therapy, TyumSMU’s press service has reported.

The scientists said that standard medical rehabilitation after COVID-19 may not be suitable for all patients, adding that practice shows that in each case an individual approach is needed. Therefore, there is a need to improve methods for the post-COVID recovery of the body.

In multi-stage studies, Tyumen scientists determined that one of the most common and undetectable consequences of coronavirus infection is a change in the neurohumoral regulation of blood vessels, which causes a risk of knocking down the body's general adaptive reactions.

TyumSMU described such changes as "trace" on the vessels, stressing that it is necessary to form further approaches to restoring health after receiving information about the processes in the vascular system of each patient.

“We have conducted studies involving various age groups who have recovered from COVID-19. It turned out that 30% of students had micro-vessels which malfunctioned after a mild course of the disease. As for those over 60, these complications were recorded in 60% of cases. The main danger of the identified consequences is the change in internal reactions to physical activity and sudden changes in temperature. That is, if a person with such a complication begins to actively engage in sports shortly after a general recovery, he has an increased risk of thrombosis with all the ensuing consequences, and a fatal outcome is possible,” Elena Turovinina, head of the Department of Medical Prevention and Rehabilitation with TyumSMU, explained.

She drew attention to the fact that the distortion of the reaction of the vascular system to external influences can extend to certain types of rehabilitation, including balneotherapy and physiotherapy, which is why she said it is necessary to select individual complexes of physiotherapy without thermal exposure or only with a certain type of it. She emphasized that previous diseases also affect the characteristics of post-COVID complications.

To identify the “trace”, scientists study blood microcirculation and indicators of oxidative stress in the vessels. Fixing these data demonstrates the features of the prolonged effect of coronavirus on the body, they say.

“In diagnostics, we use a device for the optical non-invasive probing of tissues with laser radiation. It registers the signal of moving red blood cells, which allows us to evaluate the blood flow in certain areas of the skin. Also, using different wavelengths, the device brings atoms into an excited state, highlighting certain biomarkers in the micro-vessels of the skin. Previously, this equipment was used only on the ISS to monitor the health of cosmonauts, and for the first time we used it in practical healthcare for a specific task,” Professor Turovinina added.

According to the scientist, the diagnostic device is not compact and functional enough for regular use in clinics or when doctors come home. Therefore, TyumSMU researchers plan to start developing a portable version of the device with all the necessary functions for post-COVID diagnosis. To date, university specialists are compiling therapeutic systems for the further formation of individual recommendations after the diagnosis of microcirculation in the vessels.

Doctor Turovinina added that a mild course of COVID-19 does not guarantee the absence of negative consequences for anyone. At the same time, she said, the treatment of a disease or a post-COVID syndrome with folk remedies can lead to irreversible deterioration. The most effective way to maintain your health during coronavirus is to see a doctor in time, and after recovery, be attentive to your well-being and take into account current scientific discoveries related to the disease, she stressed.