New research by scientists at the National Institutes of Health has uncovered more information as to why some people develop more severe symptoms after contracting COVID-19. Their research could prove crucial in helping us better understand the condition and how to best help individuals who contract the virus.
The research revealed that more than 10 percent of people who develop severe COVID-19 symptoms have misguided antibodies in their body. These “autoantibodies” end up attacking the immune system rather than the virus, causing even more problems for the body. They also uncovered that another 3.5 percent or more of individuals who develop severe COVID-19 carry a specific kind of genetic mutation that impacts immunity.
Because they suffer from proteins that are neutralized by autoantibodies, or because of a faulty gene, some patients suffer life threatening symptoms after contracting COVID-19, while others are asymptomatic. Perhaps most notably from the study, more than 95 percent of individuals with the autoantibodies were men, suggesting that men may be more likely to suffer severe symptoms if they contract the virus.
What It All Means
This information is a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t mean we’re suddenly going to find a way to counteract the virus. Developing a treatment that alters the immune system or attempts to make up for genetic deficiencies is obviously very difficult, but this information is still very powerful. It could help doctors identify patients who may be at a greater risk for worse symptoms should they contract the virus or once symptoms have set in. Information is power, even if we’re still working on how to best harness this power.
COVID-19 isn’t going anywhere soon, but the more we learn about it, the better we can prevent and treat problems in the thousands of Americans who contract the virus every day. Hopefully people will continue to make smart decisions about gatherings and mask use when out in public, because you may be a very healthy individual, but if you have these autoimmune disorders or genetic deficiencies, your COVID symptoms could be severe.
Please stay home if you’re feeling sick, and wear a mask when you’re in public places like the grocery store or hair salon. Buy researchers more time to better understand the virus and work towards a vaccine. Together, we can get through this, and studies that help us learn more about the virus continue to move the needle in the right direction.
