There was an interesting report on BBC news last week about a potential new treatment for Long Covid that is being assessed in Germany – where it has been used on just over 100 patients so far
The treatment (known as apheresis) is based on the fact that Covid can cause blood clots (micro-clots) and damage to the lining of small blood vessels and this may also be a causative factor in Long Covid
In very simple terms the treatment is rather like kidney dialysis in that blood is removed from one arm, cleansed of clots and other harmful components in a special machine, and then returned via the other arm
The BBC news report centred on Dr Asad Khan, a respiratory physician from the UK, who has had a severe form of Long Covid, along with PoTS, for almost a year, and who is being treated in Germany
Dr Khan has been a superb advocate for people with Long Covid and recognises the overlaps with ME/CFS – which are referred to in the report
Despite the important clinical and pathological overlaps between ME/CFS and Long Covid, there is no research evidence to indicate that the type of blood clotting problems found in Covid, and some people with Long Covid, are also present in ME/CFS
However, if this treatment does turn out to be effective it could have implications for ME/CFS – as it could also remove harmful immune system products such as autoantibodies and cytokines, which are relevant in relation to ME/CFS. My understanding is that one of the doctors in Germany is planning to assess its use in ME/CFS
These preliminary results obviously need to be viewed with caution – as we know that high expectations can be built up and then reversed, as we have seen with Rituximab
It was also disappointing to see that there was no expert opinion from a haematologist who has expertose in blood clotting and Covid
This treatment clearly needs to be validated and assessed in a proper clinical trial and I hope this can now happen
BBC report
Dr Charles Shepherd,
Trustee and Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association,
Member of the 2018-2021 NICE guideline on ME/CFS committee,
Member of the 2002 Chief Medical Officer's Working Group on ME/CFS
