March 16, 2023

expert reaction to study looking at an immune cell (monocyte) function in patients hospitalised with COVID who have lung-related long COVID symptoms

A study published in the European Respiratory Journal looks at monocyte function and long COVID lung symptoms in hospitalised COVID patients.

Dr Emily Fraser, Consultant in Respiratory Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“This is a post-hospitalised group of patients who would have had pneumonia and many probably have abnormal imaging subsequently related from Covid pneumonia lung damage.  Although they may have Long Covid symptoms, most people with Long Covid who were NOT hospitalised have NO evidence of ever having had pneumonia and have normal lung imaging.  It is important therefore that the researchers make it clear that they are looking at breathless patients who had pneumonia and were hospitalised rather than never hospitalised patients who have normal lungs and are breathless (many of whom have a breathing pattern disorder).”

‘Monocyte migration profiles define disease severity in acute COVID-19 and unique features of long COVID’ by Nicholas A. Scott et al. was published in the European Respiratory Journal at 00:01 UK time on Thursday 16 March 2023.

Declared interests

Dr Emily Fraser: “None.”