https://archive.ph/ea6sQ
Hundreds of thousands of
people affected by long-term COVID-19 in Germany alone are pinning all their hopes on research, as there are currently no approved medications or even a cure. This is especially true for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), the most severe form of
long-term COVID-19 . Hope now comes from a small team of researchers at the
Professor Stark Institute at Schlump Hospital in
Hamburg-Eimsbüttel.
Specifically, it concerns a study that has already been published in advance due to the significant national and international interest. The Hamburg scientist Dr. Christof Ziaja, who led the study, calls it a "breakthrough." "Based on the findings we have gained, we believe we have found a biomarker that essentially proves the clinical picture," says the 49-year-old. This finding is "groundbreaking," especially given that
many affected individuals are suspected of having a mental illness .
Post Covid: What the results of the Hamburg study mean for those affected
In an interview with the Abendblatt, Dr. Ziaja explains how the study is structured, what was discovered and what the new findings mean for those affected.
Hamburger Abendblatt: How was the study designed, and what was the initial hypothesis?
Dr. Christof Ziaja: Initially, we essentially wanted to replicate a previously completed study at Stanford University. This study examined patients using a so-called functional MRI – a special and rare scanner that can reveal more changes than a conventional MRI. Since the UKE has such a device, we wanted to take a closer look at it to better understand the disease. The findings we obtained were, in a sense, not based on any theory. It was a purely incidental finding.
What did it look like specifically? What did you see?
In the 90 patients, some of whom were severely affected and bedridden, whom we examined repeatedly over several years using functional MRI, I initially believed the imaging was a visual error. But that wasn't the case. As the disease progressed, we saw that a certain part of their brain had shrunk massively. I immediately discussed this with my colleagues at Stanford University, and they also saw what I had found. From then on, we worked closely together.
Brain parts that disappear? That sounds very threatening
Specifically, it involves a connection between the brain stem, the cerebellum, and the cerebral medulla, the so-called fourth ventricle, which is relevant for essential things like recovery, sleep-wake rhythm, heartbeat, vitality, and much more. This connection—a kind of bridge (the roof of the so-called rhomboid fossa)—is, in a sense, broken in those affected. And that explains many symptoms. For example, the fact that patients can no longer recover and wake up completely exhausted in the morning. These new findings naturally concern us. But that's not all. Because we can derive a lot from this knowledge that helps us understand the disease. It's basically like a biomarker that proves: This is an organic finding, not psychological.
Is there any clarity about what triggers this process?
Clarity is still lacking, but we're understanding more and more. We currently assume that spike proteins of the coronavirus cause the immune system to produce toxic autoantibodies that drive inflammatory processes in the cerebrospinal fluid. We also found this fluid in the affected brain regions. The study authors further assume that the changes we also observed in the so-called white matter may be associated with damage along the nerve fiber tracts.
What is the significance of the study results?
The significance is enormous. Many researchers, including myself, have been arguing for years against those who still claim the disease doesn't exist. In light of the current findings, I've even had doctors approach me and say, "You're right. We can now understand it." In professional circles, ME/CFS is now referred to by many as an 'MS-like disease,' meaning a condition similar to multiple sclerosis. This condition, too, is not yet fully understood, but it is recognized, and there are treatments available.
Medication is the key word. Hundreds of thousands of patients are waiting for it in Germany alone. Can your findings advance the search for suitable medications?
Absolutely. We've made a huge step forward. And this new insight is important for drawing parallels to other, broadly similar diseases that are treatable with medication. The list of potential off-label medications is long. Now we know more precisely what we're looking for.
What happens next?
Following the preliminary publication on the renowned portal medRxiv, which is operated by Yale University, among others, we now plan to officially complete and present the study soon. We essentially have all the relevant data, but to meet scientific criteria, the control group of healthy individuals needs to be larger. We expect this to happen in the summer. Before then, however, I will be presenting our study at specialist conferences. For example, in May I'm invited to speak at the ME/CFS Conference 2025 in Berlin.
