Researchers narrow down causes and possible therapies for long COVID and related post-viral illnesses

The COVID-19 crisis sparked unprecedented investment in research on post-acute infection disorders, revealing that about 6% of adults may suffer from long COVID, a condition now estimated to affect 400 million people worldwide. Studies point to dysregulated immunity, autoantibodies and the presence of viral remnants as central mechanisms, with damage to blood vessels, the gut microbiome and mitochondria also implicated.

International collaborations are comparing long COVID with ME/CFS and other syndromes, finding extensive symptom overlap and common biological signatures. Small-scale trials using immunoadsorption, B-cell-depleting antibodies such as daratumumab, and combined antiviral regimens have reported symptom relief, prompting larger placebo-controlled studies. Researchers argue that because the disease likely comprises several subtypes, a single cure is improbable, but targeting immune dysfunction and viral persistence offers the most promising route forward.