Association of Self-reported COVID-19 Infection and SARS-CoV-2 Serology Test Results With Persistent Physical Symptoms.., 2021, Matta et al

[SNT Gatchaman]

persistent physical symptoms after COVID-19 infection may be associated more with the belief in having been infected

It's quite possible that people are better at judging whether they've had covid than serology.

A new publication, also from Paris: Divergent adaptive immune responses define two types of Long COVID (2023) —

Using highly sensitive antibody and T cell assays, we could document immunological signs of a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection in half of ELISA-seronegative long COVID patients, suggesting the presence of an insufficient antiviral adaptive response in this group.

In addition, 39.1% of LC- patients fulfilled the definition of having a clinically probable SARS-CoV-2 infection, based on the occurrence of at least 3 listed symptoms including anosmia/ageusia during the acute COVID-19 stage. Combining all 5 criteria (CD4, IgG, IgA, PCR, and clinical) showed that 82.6% of patients in the LC group had signs of a probable SARS-CoV-2 infection. Taken together, this analysis showed that a majority of seronegative long COVID patients were likely to have been infected by SARS-CoV-2, highlighting the relevance of studying virally induced pathogenic mechanisms in this group.

 

[SNT Gatchaman]

See also SARS-CoV-2-Specific Immune Responses in Patients With Postviral Syndrome After Suspected COVID-19 (2023) —

Antibody and T-cell assays showed evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 exposure in approximately 40% of the PVS [symptomatic but no positive Covid test group]. Three-quarters of patients with PVS+ had detectable anti-Nucleocapsid and one-half anti-Spike responses, highlighting the importance of multitargeted COVID-19 immunologic evaluation and the limitations of commercially available diagnostic tests. Despite their persistent symptoms, lack of COVID-19 diagnosis likely delayed clinical care in patients with PVS. Our data suggest that millions of Americans presenting with PVS resembling Neuro-PASC were indeed exposed to SARS-CoV-2 at the beginning of the pandemic, and they deserve the same access to care and inclusion in research studies as patients with NP with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis.