Skeletal Muscle Disturbance in Post COVID and ME/CFS
Author Information
Author(s): Carmen Scheibenbogen, Klaus J. Wirth
Primary Institution: Charité ‐ Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Hypothesis
Skeletal muscle pathophysiology plays a key role in the development of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in patients with post COVID syndrome.
Conclusion
Future treatment approaches should focus on normalizing the cause of ionic disbalance to improve symptoms in ME/CFS patients.
Supporting Evidence
- Mitochondrial dysfunction is strongly evidenced in skeletal muscle tissue of ME/CFS patients.
- Exercise testing shows limited exercise capacity and metabolic changes indicative of mitochondrial dysfunction.
- Lower hand grip strength correlates with symptom severity in ME/CFS patients.
- Histological studies show signs of muscle damage and regeneration in ME/CFS patients.
Takeaway
This study shows that problems with muscles after COVID can lead to long-lasting fatigue and other symptoms, and fixing these muscle issues might help people feel better.
Methodology
The authors collected and summarized current knowledge on skeletal muscle pathophysiology and its role in ME/CFS and post COVID syndrome.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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