Case Report: Neutralization of Autoantibodies Targeting G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Improves Capillary Impairment and Fatigue Symptoms After COVID-19 Infection

Hohberger B, Harrer T, Mardin C, Kruse F, Hoffmanns J, Rogge L, Heltmann F, Moritz M, Szewczykowski C, Schottenhamml J, Kräter M, Bergua A, Zenkel M, Gießl A, Schlötzer-Schrehardt U, Lämmer R, Herrmann M, Haberland A, Göttel P, Müller J, Wallukat G (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Frontiers in Medicine Frontiers Media

Book Volume: 8

Article Number: 754667

DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.754667

Abstract

Clinical features of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Acute infection management is a substantial healthcare issue, and the development of long-Covid syndrome (LCS) is extremely challenging for patients and physicians. It is associated with a variety of characteristics as impaired capillary microcirculation, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), proinflammatory cytokines, and functional autoantibodies targeting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR-AAbs). Here, we present a case report of successful healing of LCS with BC 007 (Berlin Cures, Berlin, Germany), a DNA aptamer drug with a high affinity to GPCR-AAbs that neutralizes these AAbs. A patient with a documented history of glaucoma, recovered from mild COVID-19, but still suffered from CFS, loss of taste, and impaired capillary microcirculation in the macula and peripapillary region. He was positively tested for various targeting GPCR-AAbs. Within 48 h after a single BC 007 treatment, GPCR-AAbs were functionally inactivated and remained inactive during the observation period of 4 weeks. This observation was accompanied by constant improvement of the fatigue symptoms of the patient, taste, and retinal capillary microcirculation. Therefore, the removal of GPCR-AAb might ameliorate the characteristics of the LCD, such as capillary impairment, loss of taste, and CFS.

Authors with CRIS profile

Bettina Hohberger Department of Ophthalmology Thomas Harrer Professur für Innere Medizin mit dem Schwerpunkt Immundefizienz Christian Mardin Medizinische Fakultät Friedrich Kruse Lehrstuhl für Augenheilkunde Julia Schottenhamml Department of Ophthalmology Antonio Bergua Medizinische Fakultät Matthias Zenkel Department of Ophthalmology Andreas Gießl Department of Ophthalmology Ursula Schlötzer-Schrehardt Medizinische Fakultät Robert Lämmer Professur für Augenheilkunde (Glaukome) Martin Herrmann Department of Medicine 3 – Rheumatology and Immunology

Involved external institutions

Berlin Cures GmbH DE Germany (DE) Max-Planck-Institut für die Physik des Lichts (MPL) / Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Hohberger, B., Harrer, T., Mardin, C., Kruse, F., Hoffmanns, J., Rogge, L.,... Wallukat, G. (2021). Case Report: Neutralization of Autoantibodies Targeting G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Improves Capillary Impairment and Fatigue Symptoms After COVID-19 Infection. Frontiers in Medicine, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2021.754667

MLA:

Hohberger, Bettina, et al. "Case Report: Neutralization of Autoantibodies Targeting G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Improves Capillary Impairment and Fatigue Symptoms After COVID-19 Infection." Frontiers in Medicine 8 (2021).

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