Horm Metab Res 2022; 54(11): 715-720
DOI: 10.1055/a-1945-9694
Review

Post COVID and Apheresis – Where are we Standing?

Charlotte Steenblock 
1   Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Romy Walther
1   Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Sergey Tselmin
1   Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Natalia Jarzebska
1   Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
2   University Center for Vascular Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Karin Voit-Bak
3   Zentrum für Apherese- und Hämofiltration am INUS Tagesklinikum, Cham, Germany
,
Nicole Toepfner
4   Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Timo Siepmann
5   Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Jens Passauer
1   Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Christian Hugo
1   Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Gloria Wintermann
6   Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Ulrich Julius
1   Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Mahmoud Barbir
7   Department of Cardiology, Harefield Hospital, Harefield, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Tina Z. Khan
7   Department of Cardiology, Harefield Hospital, Harefield, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Milo A. Puhan
8   Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Richard Straube
1   Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Bernd Hohenstein
1   Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
,
Stefan R. Bornstein
1   Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
9   School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine and Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Roman N. Rodionov
1   Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
2   University Center for Vascular Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Abstract

A continual increase in cases of Long/Post COVID constitutes a medical and socioeconomic challenge to health systems around the globe. While the true extent of this problem cannot yet be fully evaluated, recent data suggest that up to 20% of people with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 suffer from clinically relevant symptoms of Long/Post COVID several weeks to months after the acute phase. The clinical presentation is highly variable with the main symptoms being chronic fatigue, dyspnea, and cognitive symptoms. Extracorporeal apheresis has been suggested to alleviate symptoms of Post/COVID. Thus, numerous patients are currently treated with apheresis. However, at present there is no data from randomized controlled trials available to confirm the efficacy. Therefore, physicians rely on the experience of practitioners and centers performing this treatment. Here, we summarize clinical experience on extracorporeal apheresis in patients with Post/COVID from centers across Germany.

Key words

long COVID - post COVID - apheresis - fatigue - autoantibodies - Immunity


Publication History

Received: 12 August 2022

Accepted after revision: 16 September 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
16 September 2022

Article published online:
27 October 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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