An international team of researchers has made a new one discovery regarding theCovid-19 infection. Anyone who has contracted the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, even in a mild form or without any symptoms, could develop a potentially fatal disease. A pathology never seen before, which emerged for the first time during the Covid-19 pandemic: the virus that brought the whole world to its knees would be the triggering cause.
The research was conducted by a team of scientists from the Departments of Medicine and Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of California – San Diego (United States) and the Department of Rheumatology at the University of Leeds (United Kingdom). Team working with colleagues from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust and other trusts.
a new disease linked to covid-19
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The researchers analyzed clinical data from English patients from Yorkshire. From this study a totally new disease was identified, a potentially fatal syndrome, given that eight deaths resulted from the 60 cases present in the research. The pathology can manifest itself both in cases of mild infection both in asymptomatic patients. The disease was called “MDA5 autoimmunity and interstitial pneumonia co-occurring with COVID-19” or MIP-C.
what is MIP-C
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With the term MIP-C indicates a pathology similar to anti-MDA5 positive dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune disease. In the United Kingdom, this symptomatology usually occurs in people originating from the Far East, while almost never in Caucasian patients, as emerged from this study.
There inflammatory and chronic autoimmune disease it affects the health of the skin, muscles and lungs, causing a rapidly progressive, potentially fatal interstitial lung syndrome. This pathology is caused by autoantibodies that attack the MDA5 (Melanoma Differentiation-Associated protein 5) enzyme, an RNA-sensitive receptor that detects the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and other RNA viruses. Hence the hypothesis that this condition could be linked to the Covid-19 infection.
the consequences
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Patients affected by this distinct form of anti-MDA5 positive dermatomyositis (called MIP-C, in fact) have reported serious consequences on their bodies. There is talk of scarring on the lungs in 25 cases out of 60, rheumatological symptoms such as muscle pain, arthritis and skin rashes. Additionally, people with higher levels of autoimmune reactions to the MDA5 enzyme also had high values of interlukin-15, a pro-inflammatory protein that is associated with progressive interstitial lung disease and cystic fibrosis. The full study is available at The Lancet.
