Hematological alterations associated with long COVID-19

Guilherme C Lechuga; Carlos M Morel; Salvatore Giovanni De-Simone

doi:10.3389/fphys.2023.1203472

Hematological alterations associated with long COVID-19

Front Physiol. 2023 Jul 24:14:1203472. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1203472. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Guilherme C Lechuga^{1

2

3}, Carlos M Morel¹, Salvatore Giovanni De-Simone^{1

2

4}

Affiliations

¹ Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS)/ National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Population Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
² Laboratory of Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics (LESM), Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
³ Laboratory of Cellular Ultrastructure, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
⁴ Post-Graduation Program in Science and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói, Brazil.

Abstract

Long COVID-19 is a condition characterized by persistent symptoms lasting beyond the acute phase of COVID-19. Long COVID-19 produces diverse symptomatology and can impact organs and systems, including the hematological system. Several studies have reported, in COVID-19 patients, hematological abnormalities. Most of these alterations are associated with a higher risk of severe disease and poor outcomes. This literature review identified studies reporting hematological parameters in individuals with Long COVID-19. Findings suggest that Long COVID-19 is associated with a range of sustained hematological alterations, including alterations in red blood cells, anemia, lymphopenia, and elevated levels of inflammatory markers such as ferritin, D-dimer, and IL-6. These alterations may contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of Long COVID-19 and its associated symptoms. However, further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and potential treatments for these hematological changes in individuals with Long COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; hematology; long COVID-19; post-acute sequelae; red blood cells.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Brazilian Council for Scientific Research (CNPq #30515-2020-5) and the Carlos Chagas Filho Foundation of Research Support of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ #210.780-2021 and #200.960-2022). In addition, funding was also provided by FAPERJ (#210.003-2018) through the National Institutes of Science and Technology Program (INCT) to CM (INCT-IDPN).