Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) are debilitating conditions that share similar symptoms. Despite lacking diagnostic tests or FDA-approved treatments, these conditions impose significant financial burdens on the United States in terms of medical costs and lost productivity. Medical professionals and researchers have been curious about the underlying biological abnormalities that may contribute to these symptoms and whether there are similarities between the two illnesses.
To address these inquiries, a review article authored by senior investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, the Mailman School of Public Health, and Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University has been published. The authors meticulously analyzed 559 scientific publications, comparing the symptoms of both conditions and highlighting their striking similarities. Furthermore, they discovered that both conditions exhibit comparable underlying biological abnormalities involving the brain, immune system, heart, lungs, gut, and energy metabolism.
Dr. Anthony L. Komaroff, senior physician in the Brigham Department of Medicine and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, emphasized the significance of the review, stating that it serves as a "road map" to identify areas that require further research by juxtaposing the known abnormalities associated with each condition. The authors hope that by pinpointing the abnormalities with the strongest evidence, the search for improved diagnostic tests and effective treatments can be focused and accelerated.
