A recent study published in
Pediatric Research investigated the unique inflammatory and angiogenetic protein markers in children suffering from long coronavirus disease (Long COVID).
A team of researchers from Italy and the United States analyzed blood plasma proteomics to distinguish these markers from those in healthy children, pediatric cases of acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) patients.
COVID-19 and pediatric health
Children infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) typically experience mild or asymptomatic cases with complete recovery, though severe conditions such as MIS-C have been reported.
MIS-C is a hyperinflammatory response arising weeks after infection, but its incidence has declined in frequency due to community immunity and viral evolution.
However, Long COVID is an emerging post-acute condition defined by persistent symptoms, including fatigue and cognitive impairments, that last at least two months, significantly affecting daily life.
Although Long COVID impacts people of all ages, studies exploring its biological basis in children are limited. Research suggests that chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction are potential contributors in adults, but pediatric-specific inflammatory profiles remain unexplored.
The current study
The present study analyzed blood plasma proteins in children aged between 2 and 18 years from Rome, Italy, to identify unique inflammatory markers in Long COVID cases compared to healthy controls, MIS-C patients, and children with acute COVID-19.
