Researchers from Germany are healing four Long Covid sufferers – with a heart drug.
Erlangen / Berlin – Researchers from Germany have cured patients who were affected by Long Covid for the first time. This was achieved with the help of a heart drug. The first success was announced in July, now there are a total of four people who no longer suffer exhaustion, taste disorders, depression or breathing difficulties * as a result of this treatment.
A primary school teacher was among those affected. She reports that she suffered from balance and coordination disorders and massive exhaustion from Long Covid. Bettina Hohberger, attending physician at the University Clinic Erlangen, speaks of the “most severe long covid” case that she was aware of. “She was no longer able to work. Their unsteadiness was massive. She found it very difficult to follow conversations and fell asleep all the time, ”said Hohberger in a press release.
Long Covid: Sufferers cured with heart medication
The primary school teacher and the three other victims ultimately benefited from research into the active ingredient “BC 007”, which was developed for the heart drug. “We have been researching glaucoma for years and know that so-called autoantibodies play a role in this eye disease – they have an impact on intraocular pressure and impair the blood circulation in the eye,” explains ophthalmologist Hohberger to the news portal Focus Online. When the Corona * pandemic began, the team was preparing “neutralizing drugs against these autoantibodies”.
Hohberger, who also works in the intensive care unit at Erlangen University Hospital, also regularly examined the eyes of Covid 19 patients. “Physical changes can be seen in the eye very early,” Hohberger said in an interview. This was particularly noticeable through the blood circulation in the eye as a result of a corona infection. This phenomenon was then examined in a study. With the help of a special procedure, it was found that even months after an infection with Sars-CoV-2, the blood circulation in the retina of the eye was restricted. In addition, the scientists were able to discover the aforementioned “autoantibodies” in the blood of former infected people, which were already known from studies on cataracts.
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“Since autoantibodies can attack not only the blood vessels in the retina, but possibly also in other areas of the body, the assumption was made that the drug that we originally wanted to use in our glaucoma patients could also help with Long Covid symptoms”, so Hohberger opposite the news portal. “Glaucoma” is a restriction that is also known as “glaucoma” and which is similar to cataracts.
Since the successful treatment of the four victims, the University Hospital Erlangen has received numerous inquiries about the treatment of Long Covid signs with the heart medication. However, the agent can only be used in studies, as it is not approved as a drug for Long Covid. A corresponding application for further studies has already been submitted to the Federal Ministry for Research, said Hohberger. However, the stocks of the heart drug at the Erlangen University Hospital are currently used up. (do)
