Microscopic blood clots linked to 'Long Covid': study
A study by a South African scientist has found that microscopic blood clots could be responsible for symptoms of so-called Long Covid in some people.
Stellenbosch University's Professor Resia Pretorius recognised the connection while studying blood samples taken from coronavirus patients.
Her team at the Department of Physiological Science found high levels of inflammatory molecules trapped in the micro clots of people with Long Covid.
She says some of these molecules contain proteins that prevent the breakdown of blood clots.
Pretorius says this new information will help them understand why some Covid patients experience deadly and others mild levels of clotting.
"These mirco clots are also present in individuals while they have acute Covid where you are infective and you can be in hospital or you might be at home suffering from acute Covid where you are infective.
"We found that individuals suffering from Long Covid then have these persistent mirco-clots in circulation that do not clear up when they recover from the acute Covid.
"So we think that's quite an interesting find because now we could possibly have a target for treatment for these individuals."
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