But what does article this boil down to-- #1--VIRAL PERSISTENCE #2--Reactivation of dormant chronic infections #3--Dysregulation of the gut #4--Microclot formation and platelet dysfunction
Without a clear understanding of the driving mechanism—the fuel causing and sustaining the fire—long COVID treatment will remain confined to alleviating symptoms rather than resolving the underlying problem.
Let's say one of these phenotypes relates to viral persistence and another relates to autoimmunity. You might not want to suppress the immune system in somebody who has viral persistence, but in somebody who's got an autoimmune mechanism, you may want to do this."
However, this chronic inflammation can be fueled by several distinct pathways—low levels of circulating virus, reactivation of dormant infections, immune dysfunction, and more. Each pathway will demand a different treatment.