AUTHOR=Scheibenbogen Carmen , Bellmann-Strobl Judith Theresia , Heindrich Cornelia , Wittke Kirsten , Stein Elisa , Franke Christiana , Prüss Harald , Preßler Hannah , Machule Marie-Luise , Audebert Heinrich , Finke Carsten , Zimmermann Hanna Gwendolyn , Sawitzki Birgit , Meisel Christian , Toelle Markus , Krueger Anne , Aschenbrenner Anna C. , Schultze Joachim L. , Beyer Marc D. , Ralser Markus , Mülleder Michael , Sander Leif Erik , Konietschke Frank , Paul Friedemann , Stojanov Silvia , Bruckert Lisa , Hedderich Dennis M. , Knolle Franziska , Riemekasten Gabriela , Vehreschild Maria J. G. T. , Cornely Oliver A. , Behrends Uta , Burock Susen TITLE=Fighting Post-COVID and ME/CFS – development of curative therapies JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine VOLUME=10 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1194754 DOI=10.3389/fmed.2023.1194754 ISSN=2296-858X ABSTRACT=

The sequela of COVID-19 include a broad spectrum of symptoms that fall under the umbrella term post-COVID-19 condition or syndrome (PCS). Immune dysregulation, autoimmunity, endothelial dysfunction, viral persistence, and viral reactivation have been identified as potential mechanisms. However, there is heterogeneity in expression of biomarkers, and it is unknown yet whether these distinguish different clinical subgroups of PCS. There is an overlap of symptoms and pathomechanisms of PCS with postinfectious myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). No curative therapies are available for ME/CFS or PCS. The mechanisms identified so far provide targets for therapeutic interventions. To accelerate the development of therapies, we propose evaluating drugs targeting different mechanisms in clinical trial networks using harmonized diagnostic and outcome criteria and subgrouping patients based on a thorough clinical profiling including a comprehensive diagnostic and biomarker phenotyping.