Post-COVID and Post-Vac-Syndrome
A challenge for our healthcare system!
A corona infection can also lead to very severe health impairments and cause long-lasting symptoms. However, it is often not even possible to make a clear distinction, especially in people who have been vaccinated several times and have also contracted coronavirus several times. The underlying pathomechanism of the symptoms is similar for both the coronavirus infection and the vaccination in relation to the spike protein. In the case of vaccination, however, one must also reckon with as yet incompletely known health effects due to DNA contamination and other seriously worrying information and findings that are continuously being discovered.
Overall, we are seeing an increase in chronic fatigue and exhaustion, autoimmune diseases, mast cell activation and much more. The clinical picture of patients with PCS (post-COVID syndrome) or PVS (post-vac syndrome) is very heterogeneous. For many colleagues in primary care medicine, the symptoms are often unknown, which all too often leads to medical staff being overwhelmed. All too often, patients are unfortunately relegated to the psychosomatic track due to insufficient knowledge of the presentation of symptoms and the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
In my practice, I see people who suffer from various degrees of disease intensity after a corona infection or vaccination, right up to being completely bedridden and in need of care. Some people have been completely torn from their lives, which is very sad to see.
There are special outpatient clinics at universities that deal with people suffering from PCS and PVS. These outpatient clinics receive countless calls from desperate people, some of whom are helplessly abandoned to their fate without adequate medical care. The waiting times at these special outpatient clinics are very long and regularly take several months, sometimes up to a year. Our healthcare system is simply not adequately prepared for the number of people affected. Dr. Scheibenbogen from the Charité Immunodeficiency Outpatient Clinic said the following: ‘I receive daily inquiries from often desperate relatives about people who are lying at home without medical care. And care structures for these patients are virtually non-existent, not even a GP will go there. And we also have the problem that there are no centers for these people. And doctors still have little knowledge of how to treat this disease…’.
The pathomechanisms behind post-vac and post-COVID syndrome
The pathomechanisms behind post-vac syndrome (after vaccination) and post-COVID syndrome (Long COVID) are the subject of intensive research, as they are very complex in their development and symptoms. Both conditions have overlaps, as they could be triggered by an abnormal immune response to a viral antigen (SARS-CoV-2 and the spike protein) and, in the case of vaccination, also to vaccine components. Potentially disease-causing ingredients of the vaccines can be, for example, the lipid nanoparticles or allergy-causing substances such as tromethamine or polyethylene glycol (in the mRNA vaccines) or, in the case of Novavax, the active ingredient Matrix-M.
I have briefly summarized some of the most important pathophysiological damage mechanisms for you below:
1. Dysregulation of the immune system
A persistent overreaction of the immune system is a central mechanism in both PCS and PVS. This leads to chronic inflammation with increased levels of inflammatory messengers (proinflammatory cytokines) and also to an increased incidence of autoimmune diseases. This could be triggered by persistent viral components or delayed viral clearance, which leads to chronic inflammation and autoimmune reactions. With regard to autoimmunity, we also frequently detect autoantibodies against the body’s own structures, which also occur more frequently in chronic fatigue syndrome (myalgic encephalomyelitis). These are G-protein-coupled receptor antibodies. The occurrence of these antibodies can have far-reaching effects on the cardiovascular system, the muscles and much more. It is admittedly very complex.
2. Persistence of viral components
There is now clear evidence that the spike protein and also the SARS-CoV-2 virus persist in the body and maintain chronic inflammation long after vaccination or infection. The spike protein leads to many other secondary effects, including binding to the ACE-2 receptor. The ACE-2 receptor is involved in various biochemical reactions in the body, including blood pressure and pulse regulation, wound healing and inflammation.
Possible consequences are:
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- Triggering of various inflammatory reactions, which, for example, promotes thromboembolic events
- Activation of endothelial cells or disruption of endothelial function, platelet activation
- Microcirculatory disorders
3. Microthromboses and endothelial damage
PCS or PVS can lead to endothelial damage (damage to the inner lining of the blood vessels) and microthrombosis. This in turn impairs microcirculation and the oxygen supply to organs, which can contribute to fatigue, shortness of breath and neurological symptoms.
4. Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (POTS, dysautonomia)
Many sufferers report symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness or a sudden drop in blood pressure, which indicates a dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). This could be triggered by inflammatory processes or damage to nerve structures.
5. Mitochondrial dysfunction
A disruption of the mitochondria, the energy power plants of the cells, could explain why many patients complain of extreme exhaustion (fatigue) and muscle weakness. This can be caused by persistent inflammation or damage to the mitochondria.
6. Neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration
There is increased inflammation of the brain and central nervous system, with activation of microglia and astrocytes and increased release of inflammatory messenger substances in the brain. There are also indications of an increase in neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, etc.). Common neurological symptoms include difficulty concentrating, memory problems (“brain fog”) and headaches.
7. Reactivation or triggering of a previous or latent viral disease (such as EBV)
We see this very often in our practice. Immunological dysfunction leads to the reactivation of herpes viruses (varicella zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus, etc.) as well as other microbial pathogens that have been ‘dormant’ in the body.
Long COVID / Post-Vac-Syndrome: What can you do?
There are various ways to take therapeutic action here. Individual and targeted treatment is important. Two therapy methods that we use with good results are described below:
Blood purification therapy (toxopheresis)
One option is to remove harmful substances from the body using a blood purification process. Various procedures have been used for decades to rid the body of harmful substances. One example of this is dialysis for patients with end-stage renal failure. We use toxopheresis in our practice. Toxopheresis is a special blood purification procedure that aims to remove toxic substances, autoantibodies or inflammatory mediators from the blood. It is a form of therapeutic apheresis (blood washing) in which the blood is filtered outside the body (extracorporeal circulation) and freed of unwanted substances before being returned to the patient’s circulation. The aim of toxopheresis is to modulate the inflammatory process, correct the immune response and thus positively influence the course of the disease. Toxopheresis is a highly specialized therapy method. Further information can be found here: Toxopheresis in our practice in Schwerte
Ozone high-dose therapy (according to Lahodny, OHT)
High-dose ozone therapy is a special form of ozone therapy developed by the Austrian physician Dr. Johann Lahodny. It is also known as ozone high-dose therapy (OHT) and aims to stimulate and regenerate the body through the application of high doses of ozone. We use it successfully for various conditions, for example chronic fatigue and tiredness disorders as well as PCS and PVS. Ozone therapy has a positive effect on platelet function, activates immunocompetent cells, has an antimicrobial effect, creates a balance between oxidants and antioxidants and improves microcirculation. It is therefore able to make a decisive contribution to immune regulation. Further information can be found here: Ozone high-dose therapy according to Lahodny
In addition to these therapeutic procedures, we also always carry out the following:
- Optimization of the mitochondria, your body’s power plants
- Replenishment of mineral and vitamin deficiencies
- Removal of environmental toxins and support of the body’s own detoxification mechanisms
- Optimization of the intestinal flora, treatment of leaky gut syndrome and dysbiosis
- Stabilization of the immune system and treatment of chronically reactivated infectious diseases
- Stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system
The prerequisite here is a detailed laboratory diagnosis, a detailed initial consultation with a review of all preliminary documents and individual care tailored to your symptoms. We will be happy to support you with the aim of improving or restoring your health.
If you have any further questions on this topic or would like an initial consultation, please do not hesitate to contact us. Further information on making an appointment can be found here.
