The long-term health problems caused by the sequelae of the new crown have attracted attention. Some patients who have recovered continue to experience bone pain or foot pain and discomfort. A study by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong successfully solved the mystery of pain syndrome. It was the first time in the world that infection with the new coronavirus can cause severe bone loss. Increased risk of osteoporosis or fractures in recovered patients.
The research team found in Syrian hamsters infected with the new coronavirus, which can lead to severe bone loss of 20% to 50% of the trabecular bone structure in the long bones and vertebrae. still continues.
The relevant research results have been published in the international academic journal "Nature Communications".
The research team led by Professor Yang Weiguo and Dr. Chen Fuhe from the School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, HKU, in order to understand the impact of the new coronavirus on bone tissue metabolism, the research team injected the new coronavirus into the nose of the Syrian hamster model, and collected the infected hamsters. Bone tissue samples.
Using three-dimensional micron-scale computed tomography, the team found that infection with the new coronavirus can cause severe bone loss ranging from 20% to 50% in the trabecular bone structure in long bones and vertebrae.
The density of trabecular bone (white arrow) in the femur of hamsters infected with 2019-nCoV (right) was lower than that of uninfected controls (left).
Studies have found that bone loss caused by acute infection lasts longer.
The study further found that bone loss is closely related to the dysregulation of cytokines induced by infection with the new coronavirus.
This pathological osteopenia is closely related to the inflammation of osteoclasts, a type of cell responsible for bone tissue resorption; cytokine dysregulation caused by infection with SARS-CoV-2 not only affects osteoclast differentiation, but also induces a pro-inflammatory response in skeletal tissue , enhancing its effect on promoting osteoclast growth.
Using Syrian hamsters close to human infection as a model HKU: continuous follow-up is required
This study is the first in the world to use a Syrian hamster model that is close to human infection with the new coronavirus to study the impact of the new coronavirus on bone tissue metabolism.
The results of the study prove that the pathological bone loss caused by the new coronavirus may be an overlooked complication that needs continuous follow-up in the future.
The new crown virus has a greater impact on opponents and long bones of the feet
Professor Yang Weiguo, who is in charge of the research, said that the study found that the new coronavirus has a greater impact on the long bones of the hands and feet, which can cause a higher rate of bone loss, while the impact on the lumbar bones and other vertebrae is less.
The study also showed that the loss was more serious in the inflammatory phase of the initial infection, but the hamsters had fully recovered by the 60th day of infection, and the bone loss had not stopped.
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Yang Weiguo: There have been patients who have recovered from persistent pain in the thigh bones or are related to bone loss
Yang Weiguo said that there were 40- and 50-year-old recovered patients who said at the follow-up consultation that the bones in the thigh continued to be painful, which was believed to be related to severe bone loss. Therefore, recovered patients with related symptoms should pay attention.
Elderly people with existing osteoporosis problems may experience "superposition" after recovery, aggravating the original bone loss problem, and the risk of fractures will also increase relatively.
In the future, research will be conducted on whether drugs can be used to prevent bone loss after infection.
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