The most frequent VND-related symptoms were: diarrhea (73%), tachycardia (59%), dizziness, dysphonia and dysphagia (45% each), and orthostatic hypotension (14%). 6 of 22 clients (27%) displayed change of the vagus nerve in the neck revealed by ultrasound– including both thickening of the nerve and increased echogenicity which shows mild inflammatory reactive changes.
An assessment of stomach and bowel function performed in 19 patients exposed 8 (42%) had their ability to deliver food to the stomach (via the esophagus) impaired, with 2 of these 8 (25%) reporting trouble in swallowing. Gastroesophageal reflux (acid reflux) was observed in 9 of 19 (47%) individuals; with 4 of these 9 (44%) once again having problem delivering food to the stomach and 3 of these 9 (33%) with hiatal hernia– which occurs when the upper part of the stomach bulges through the diaphragm into the chest cavity.
By European Society of Medical Microbiology and Contagious Illness
February 11, 2022
Long COVID is a potentially disabling syndrome affecting an approximated 10-15% of topics who make it through COVID-19. The authors propose that SARS-CoV-2-mediated vagus nerve dysfunction (VND) might explain some long COVID signs, consisting of dysphonia (relentless voice problems), dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing), lightheadedness, tachycardia (unusually high heart rate), orthostatic hypotension (low blood pressure) and diarrhea.
The authors carried out a pilot, comprehensive morphological and practical assessment of the vagus nerve, using imaging and practical tests in a prospective observational associate of long COVID topics with symptoms suggestive of VND. In their overall mate of 348 clients, 228 (66%) had at least one symptom suggestive of VND. The present examination was carried out in the first 22 subjects with VND symptoms (10% of the overall) seen in the Long COVID Clinic of University Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol in between March and June 2021. The research study is ongoing and continues to recruit patients.
Of the 22 subjects evaluated, 20 (91%) were ladies with an average age of 44 years. The most frequent VND-related signs were: diarrhea (73%), tachycardia (59%), dysphonia, dizziness and dysphagia (45% each), and orthostatic hypotension (14%). Almost all (19 subjects, 86%) had at least 3 VND-related symptoms. The median previous duration of signs was 14 months. 6 of 22 clients (27%) showed modification of the vagus nerve in the neck shown by ultrasound– including both thickening of the nerve and increased echogenicity which shows mild inflammatory reactive changes.
A thoracic ultrasound revealed flattened diaphragmatic curves in 10 out of 22 (46%) subjects (which equates a reduction in diaphragmatic movement during breathing, or more simply abnormal breathing). A total of 10 of 16 (63%) examined individuals revealed reduced maximum inspiration pressures, revealing weakness of breathing muscles.
Eating and gastrointestinal function was likewise impacted in some clients, with 13 of 18 assessed (72%) having a positive screen for self-perceived oropharyngeal dysphagia (problem swallowing). An evaluation of gastric and bowel function performed in 19 clients revealed 8 (42%) had their ability to deliver food to the stomach (through the esophagus) impaired, with 2 of these 8 (25%) reporting problem in swallowing. Gastroesophageal reflux (acid reflux) was observed in 9 of 19 (47%) people; with 4 of these 9 (44%) again having trouble providing food to the stomach and 3 of these 9 (33%) with hiatal hernia– which takes place when the upper part of the stomach bulges through the diaphragm into the chest cavity.
A Voice Handicap Index 30 test (a standard way to determine voice function) was unusual in 8/17 (47%) cases, with 7 of these 8 cases (88%) suffering dysphonia.
The authors say: “In this pilot assessment, most long COVID topics with vagus nerve dysfunction symptoms had a series of considerable, clinically-relevant, structural and/or practical modifications in their vagus nerve, consisting of nerve thickening, trouble swallowing, and signs of impaired breathing. Our findings so far therefore point at vagus nerve dysfunction as a main pathophysiological function of long COVID.”
Meeting: The European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2022).
New research study to be provided at this years European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2022, Lisbon, April 23-26) recommends that many of the signs connected to post-COVID syndrome (PCC, likewise called long COVID) could be connected to the effect of the virus on the vagus nerve– among the most important multi-functional nerves in the body. The research study is by Dr. Gemma Lladós and Dr. Lourdes Mateu, University Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain, and associates.
The vagus nerve extends from the brain down into the torso and into the heart, lungs, and intestinal tracts, in addition to numerous muscles including those associated with swallowing. As such, this nerve is accountable for a wide array of physical functions including controlling heart rate, speech, the gag reflex, moving food from the mouth to the stomach, moving food through the intestinal tracts, sweating, and many others.
