A second study reveals another abnormality in the seriously ill infected patients. These people have certain antibodies or immune cells that, instead of bombarding the enemy, attack their own immune cells. More specifically, the proteins of the type I interferon. A very small number of uninfected people (4 in 1,277) also have that type of defective antibodies. That is why the researchers think that the abnormality in the immune system is not the result of the infection with the corona virus.
“The research is an important step forward in deciphering the immunological treatment we can provide to patients with COVID-19,” says Professor Haerynck, “We need to further test these treatments through clinical trials. But this is clearly a great example of how we can now consider known treatments for other diseases with COVID-19. ”
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