{"id":707,"date":"2023-03-17T12:54:51","date_gmt":"2023-03-17T11:54:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/apheresis-therapy.eu\/apherese-post-covid\/"},"modified":"2025-05-28T18:51:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T16:51:57","slug":"apheresis-post-covid","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/apherese-kortumpark.de\/en\/apheresis-post-covid\/","title":{"rendered":"Post-COVID"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-2ku2c8-b0a205053a8212f923d36825e96c405c\">\n.avia-section.av-2ku2c8-b0a205053a8212f923d36825e96c405c{\nmargin-top:50px;\nmargin-bottom:50px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div id='av_section_1'  class='avia-section av-2ku2c8-b0a205053a8212f923d36825e96c405c main_color avia-section-no-padding avia-no-border-styling  avia-builder-el-0  avia-builder-el-no-sibling  avia-bg-style-scroll container_wrap fullsize'  ><div class='container av-section-cont-open' ><main  role=\"main\" itemprop=\"mainContentOfPage\"  class='template-page content  av-content-full alpha units'><div class='post-entry post-entry-type-page post-entry-707'><div class='entry-content-wrapper clearfix'>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-lcqa77q5-f27a6488a579c6e20df4744f496eaf66\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-lcqa77q5-f27a6488a579c6e20df4744f496eaf66{\npadding-bottom:50px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-lcqa77q5-f27a6488a579c6e20df4744f496eaf66 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-lcqa77q5-f27a6488a579c6e20df4744f496eaf66 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-lcqa77q5-f27a6488a579c6e20df4744f496eaf66 av-special-heading-h2 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-1  el_before_av_one_half  avia-builder-el-first '><h2 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Apheresis for long-COVID (long-haul COVID)<\/h2><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<div class='flex_column av-8fm2w-843296761747fc6265f8501025f3d587 av_one_half  avia-builder-el-2  el_after_av_heading  el_before_av_one_half  first flex_column_div '     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-268y0o-79aedd1512f6beee3f5604e6272d0ffb\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-268y0o-79aedd1512f6beee3f5604e6272d0ffb{\nheight:10px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-268y0o-79aedd1512f6beee3f5604e6272d0ffb hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-3  el_before_av_image  avia-builder-el-first '><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-245b0w-a6e28a49a5f13f7395b485002b87d32e\">\n.avia-image-container.av-245b0w-a6e28a49a5f13f7395b485002b87d32e img.avia_image{\nbox-shadow:none;\n}\n.avia-image-container.av-245b0w-a6e28a49a5f13f7395b485002b87d32e .av-image-caption-overlay-center{\ncolor:#ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='avia-image-container av-245b0w-a6e28a49a5f13f7395b485002b87d32e av-styling- av-hover-grow avia_animated_image av-animated-when-visible-95 pop-up avia-align-left  avia-builder-el-4  el_after_av_hr  avia-builder-el-last '   itemprop=\"image\" itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ImageObject\" ><div class=\"avia-image-container-inner\"><div class=\"avia-image-overlay-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" class='wp-image-692 avia-img-lazy-loading-not-692 avia_image ' src=\"https:\/\/apherese-kortumpark.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/apherese-team.jpg\" alt='' title='Apherese-Zentrum in Bochum'  height=\"600\" width=\"800\"  itemprop=\"thumbnailUrl\" srcset=\"https:\/\/apherese-kortumpark.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/apherese-team.jpg 800w, https:\/\/apherese-kortumpark.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/apherese-team-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/apherese-kortumpark.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/apherese-team-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/apherese-kortumpark.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/apherese-team-705x529.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-1xru80-8ffe4aac909d8f65084e02243f9dd174\">\n.flex_column.av-1xru80-8ffe4aac909d8f65084e02243f9dd174{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-1xru80-8ffe4aac909d8f65084e02243f9dd174 av_one_half  avia-builder-el-5  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_one_half  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding '     ><p><section  class='av_textblock_section av-lcqacpsq-a63cb6f5d3eeb04f88884108c34949ac'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>There is growing evidence suggesting that apheresis therapy may represent a therapeutically meaningful and effective approach for patients with Post-COVID Syndrome (PCS).<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201eIn summary, the current study provides further evidence that IA is effective in ME\/CFS. This result warrants further studies of repeat IA therapy to maintain clinical remission, as shown for other autoimmune diseases\u201c<\/em><br \/>\n<small><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2077-0383\/9\/8\/2443\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">T\u00f6lle et al. J. Clin. Med. 2020<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n<p>The underlying pathophysiological rationale is as follows: the SARS-CoV-2 infection may induce the formation of autoantibodies targeting neurotransmitter receptors. Therapeutic apheresis can eliminate these autoantibodies, allowing neurotransmitters to once again bind to their receptors\u2014potentially alleviating PCS symptoms.<\/p>\n<p>A current guideline by the German AWMF (Association of the Scientific Medical Societies) for the treatment of Long\/Post-COVID recommends the use of plasmapheresis in cases of neurological manifestations (i.e., ME\/CFS) with detectable autoantibodies:<\/p>\n<p><em>15.3 Treatment Options:<br \/>\nIf there is evidence of an autoimmune neurological manifestation with the presence of autoantibodies, treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins, corticosteroids, or plasmapheresis should be considered.<\/em><br \/>\n<small>AWMF S1-Guideline Long\/Post-COVID (as of 17 August 2022)<\/small><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-eu9bk-bcf54b0f66cac2e00533e9c3076a0f51\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-eu9bk-bcf54b0f66cac2e00533e9c3076a0f51{\nmargin-top:-80px;\nheight:1px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-eu9bk-bcf54b0f66cac2e00533e9c3076a0f51 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-7  el_after_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-last  av-desktop-hide av-medium-hide av-small-hide'><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_half-068220c8262444be99a83ad265bdcedb\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_half-068220c8262444be99a83ad265bdcedb{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_half-068220c8262444be99a83ad265bdcedb av_one_half  avia-builder-el-8  el_after_av_one_half  el_before_av_one_half  first flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding column-top-margin'     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mb86ji22-7a6de7e301959f41a28aac701bce0eb2\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-mb86ji22-7a6de7e301959f41a28aac701bce0eb2{\npadding-bottom:50px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-mb86ji22-7a6de7e301959f41a28aac701bce0eb2 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-mb86ji22-7a6de7e301959f41a28aac701bce0eb2 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-mb86ji22-7a6de7e301959f41a28aac701bce0eb2 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-9  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Own Study Data<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mb86khhr-9ded32ea24bd559950dc0be524c8cc57'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p><small><strong>Source \/ Publication:<\/strong> DOI 10.1055\/a-2445-8593<\/small><\/p>\n<p>In our single-center study involving 20 patients with Post-COVID Syndrome, we investigated the efficacy and tolerability of therapeutic apheresis. All participants suffered from persistent and in some cases severely debilitating symptoms following a COVID-19 infection.<\/p>\n<p>Over the course of treatment, approximately two-thirds of the patients reported subjective improvement\u2014particularly in symptoms such as fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and circulatory problems. However, a complete remission of symptoms was not observed in any of the participants. Around one-third of patients showed no significant clinical benefit.<\/p>\n<p>Laboratory analyses revealed a notable reduction in pathological parameters, including autoantibodies against G-protein coupled receptors, elevated inflammatory markers, and lipid levels.<\/p>\n<p>Our findings suggest that therapeutic apheresis may provide symptom relief for a subset of patients with Post-COVID Syndrome. Nevertheless, the small sample size, lack of a control group, and the highly variable nature of PCS symptoms underscore the need for further controlled studies to properly assess the efficacy and long-term outcomes of this treatment approach.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-be8425a330a90241e1a8c351bcaeb6a5\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-be8425a330a90241e1a8c351bcaeb6a5{\nmargin-top:-80px;\nheight:1px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-be8425a330a90241e1a8c351bcaeb6a5 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-11  el_after_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-last  av-desktop-hide av-medium-hide av-small-hide'><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_one_half-e671fab5613f317ef63eb9ab712c64a3\">\n.flex_column.av-av_one_half-e671fab5613f317ef63eb9ab712c64a3{\n-webkit-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n-moz-border-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\nborder-radius:0px 0px 0px 0px;\npadding:0px 0px 0px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class='flex_column av-av_one_half-e671fab5613f317ef63eb9ab712c64a3 av_one_half  avia-builder-el-12  el_after_av_one_half  avia-builder-el-last  flex_column_div av-zero-column-padding column-top-margin'     ><p>\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-mb86m3iv-3f10ff37a40f0f970fe6af0ca0e298c5\">\n#top .av-special-heading.av-mb86m3iv-3f10ff37a40f0f970fe6af0ca0e298c5{\npadding-bottom:50px;\n}\nbody .av-special-heading.av-mb86m3iv-3f10ff37a40f0f970fe6af0ca0e298c5 .av-special-heading-tag .heading-char{\nfont-size:25px;\n}\n.av-special-heading.av-mb86m3iv-3f10ff37a40f0f970fe6af0ca0e298c5 .av-subheading{\nfont-size:15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='av-special-heading av-mb86m3iv-3f10ff37a40f0f970fe6af0ca0e298c5 av-special-heading-h3 blockquote modern-quote  avia-builder-el-13  el_before_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-first '><h3 class='av-special-heading-tag'  itemprop=\"headline\"  >Critical Perspective \u2013 Contradictory Evidence<\/h3><div class=\"special-heading-border\"><div class=\"special-heading-inner-border\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<section  class='av_textblock_section av-mb86n1lo-11026b5d6811e45ea0bd8c63d91d5632'  itemscope=\"itemscope\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/CreativeWork\" ><div class='avia_textblock'  itemprop=\"text\" ><p>Recent study results (DOI: 10.1038\/s41467-025-57198-7) paint a more skeptical picture. <\/p>\n<p>In a randomized, controlled trial involving 50 Post-COVID patients, therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) did not show significant improvement in symptoms compared to the control group. <\/p>\n<p>The authors highlight the importance of further research to evaluate both the efficacy and safety of apheresis in the context of Post-COVID treatment.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section><br \/>\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\" data-created_by=\"avia_inline_auto\" id=\"style-css-av-av_hr-be8425a330a90241e1a8c351bcaeb6a5\">\n#top .hr.hr-invisible.av-av_hr-be8425a330a90241e1a8c351bcaeb6a5{\nmargin-top:-80px;\nheight:1px;\n}\n<\/style>\n<div  class='hr av-av_hr-be8425a330a90241e1a8c351bcaeb6a5 hr-invisible  avia-builder-el-15  el_after_av_textblock  avia-builder-el-last  av-desktop-hide av-medium-hide av-small-hide'><span class='hr-inner '><span class=\"hr-inner-style\"><\/span><\/span><\/div><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/apherese-kortumpark.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/707"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/apherese-kortumpark.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/apherese-kortumpark.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apherese-kortumpark.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/apherese-kortumpark.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=707"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/apherese-kortumpark.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/707\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":818,"href":"https:\/\/apherese-kortumpark.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/707\/revisions\/818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/apherese-kortumpark.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=707"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}