Features of immune response in patients with post-COVID syndrome and a history of type 6 herpes

Since the end of 2019, people have been faced with infection, caused by a new strain of coronavirus – SARS-CoV-2. This disease has led to a pandemic, one of the global problems of mankind. Despite clinical manifestations of COVID-19 became milder with time, resembling features of seasonal viral infections, the persistent disturbances in various organs and systems were identified in former patients. It was found that, after suffering from COVID-19, a significant number of patients experience numerous disorders in both general health and complications of existing chronic diseases, including herpesvirus reactivation nd papillomavirus infection. In this regard, the scientific community has an additional task, a comprehensive and in-depth study of post-COVID syndrome to identify ways to improve the condition of patients. Currently, it has been revealed that about 90% of the world’s population is infected with herpesviruses. In some cases, one person may be found to have co-infection with different herpesviruses. Herpesvirus infections may be associated with a lot of conditions, from local labial herpes to generalized forms, malignant neoplasms and congenital malformations. It can occur both in acute and latent forms. The study of herpesvirus infection in the context of post-covid syndrome is one of the most pressing problems of modern medicine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in immune indexes in patients with post-COVID syndrome and with laboratory and clinically confirmed herpes virus type 6. To this purpose, changes in innate immune response indicators such as the complement system, phagocytic activity of neutrophils were assessed. Clinical data, immunological tests (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and NBT test with nitroblue tetrazolium), and statistical analysis methods (Mann–Whitney criterion) were used for the study. The results have shown that that adverse reactions caused by the previous coronavirus infection are characterized by new aspects of disorders in adaptive and innate immune systems, thus leading to more serious consequences for immune system and the entire body, having been carefully studied and analyzed. The revealed changes indicate that the more pronounced disorders are observed in patients with post-COVID syndrome and a history of herpes virus type 6. This finding highlights the need for a more detailed study of their immune status, in order to develop individualized approaches to immunocorrection of immune system disorders in this group of patients, taking into account their herpesvirus history.