A research team from Israel reports success in a new therapy against Long Covid as a result of a coronavirus infection.
Tel-Aviv – So far, only one thing has helped against Long Covid: not to be infected with the corona virus. Israeli researchers have now found a treatment that could bring relief to the millions of people suffering from Long Covid: the symptoms of the corona virus can be alleviated with high-pressure administration of pure oxygen.
Those affected who took part in a study by Tel Aviv University suffered from persistent exhaustion, concentration problems, word-finding difficulties and sometimes depression and anxiety disorders before the treatment. The researchers gave them high-pressure oxygen treatments for a few weeks. In addition, possible changes in the brain were measured using magnetic resonance. Before the start of treatment, the images showed that the virus had caused permanent damage to the frontal lobe of the brain. In the course of treatment, not only did the condition of those affected improve, but the visible damage in the brain also regressed.
Previously, high-pressure oxygen therapy had been shown to be effective in the treatment of stroke or brain trauma. The research team had suspected that the method could also be used against Long Covid. They subjected 73 patients to therapy with pure oxygen administered via a mask five days a week for two months. The control group got air. All subjects had suffered from Long Covid for at least three months at the start of the tests.
Coronavirus long-term consequences: Significant improvement in symptoms
At the end of the treatment, the group treated with high-pressure therapy showed a significant improvement in their symptoms. In the control group, on the other hand, the symptoms remained largely unchanged, and magnetic resonance also showed no regression of the brain damage. The greatest advances were made by the therapy for the concentration of those affected, and information could also be processed more quickly. The therapy also alleviated the psychiatric symptoms and improved the quality of sleep.
The therapy helps the brain to regenerate its cell structure, explains Shani Itskovich-Zilberman from the research team. Study leader Shai Efrati sees the results as a breakthrough. The therapy could also be used for other viral diseases with neurological or psychiatric consequential damage. (Maria Sterkl)
