Researchers claim that antibodies are now becoming rogue cells! The alarming discovery explained that the cells attack the human body instead of the coronavirus.
A health worker inspects a blood sample to be tested for COVID-19 via Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA) antibody test at a drive-thru testing area at The Medical City Hospital on July 8, 2020 in Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines. President Rodrigo Duterte expressed concern with reopening the country as it struggles to contain the spread of the coronavirus. With more than 45,000 cases and more than a thousand deaths, the Philippines is the second worst coronavirus-hit country in Southeast Asia, despite imposing the longest lockdown in the world surpassing a hundred days that has left millions of Filipinos jobless and hungry.
The scientists said that the so-called "autoantibodies" cause COVID-19 symptoms to linger for months. Previously, researchers from the United Kingdom found out that people with antibodies that can fight COVID-19 decreased by about 26% since the study began.
U.S. News reported that the team studied around 365,000 individuals in England starting from June until September. The recent researchers discovered that 6% of the participants developed antibodies, but it dropped to 4.4% after the first trial.
What the new antibody study suggests
While the recent study is concerned about the decreasing antibody, the new research warns about the off-target assaults of the latest rogue immune cells.
Jess Baddams, paramedic, holds a blood sample as she poses for a photograph during an antibody testing program at the Hollymore Ambulance Hub of the West Midlands Ambulance Service, operated by the West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, on June 5, 2020 in Birmingham, England. The British government is providing antibody testing to NHS and care home staff as part of the first phase of its antibody testing programme. The blood tests, which can only be performed my trained medical practitioners, detect the presence of antibodies to COVID-19 to determine if a person has unknowingly contracted the virus and consequently developed an immune response.
Also Read: New Study Suggests People With COVID-19 Antibodies Are Declining- Could It Affect Herd Immunity?
Emory University scientists claimed that these autoantibodies are the culprit behind "long-haulers" lingering COVID-19 symptoms. According to the Daily Mail UK's latest report, these cells are similar to autoimmune responses found in other diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and forms of hepatitis.
Scientists can't detect who have the rogue antibodies
Although scientists were able to detect the new kind antibodies, they don't know how to identify a person which has them so that they can develop treatments to fight the rogue cells. The study said that the people suffering from long-COVID-19 symptoms are difficult to detect.
To make it worse, the number of individuals who have the autoantibodies is increasing. Another study revealed that around 74% of a group of UK COVID-19, which is 81 out of 110, are currently suffering from lingering symptoms three months after they were released from the hospital.
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Written by: Giuliano de Leon.
