Antihistamines improve cardiovascular manifestations and other symptoms of long-COVID attributed to mast cell activation
IntroductionLong-COVID is a broadly defined condition and there are no effective therapies. Cardiovascular manifestations of long-COVID include high heart rate, postural tachycardia, and palpitations. Previous studies have suggested that mast cell activation (MCA) may play a role in the pathophysiol...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1202696/full |
| _version_ | 1797778231496015872 |
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| author | Fabrizio Salvucci Roberto Codella Adriana Coppola Irene Zacchei Gabriella Grassi Maria Luisa Anti Nicolita Nitisoara Livio Luzi Livio Luzi Carmine Gazzaruso |
| author_facet | Fabrizio Salvucci Roberto Codella Adriana Coppola Irene Zacchei Gabriella Grassi Maria Luisa Anti Nicolita Nitisoara Livio Luzi Livio Luzi Carmine Gazzaruso |
| author_sort | Fabrizio Salvucci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionLong-COVID is a broadly defined condition and there are no effective therapies. Cardiovascular manifestations of long-COVID include high heart rate, postural tachycardia, and palpitations. Previous studies have suggested that mast cell activation (MCA) may play a role in the pathophysiology of long-COVID, including in the mechanisms of its cardiovascular manifestations. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment with blockers of histamine receptors in patients with long-COVID who did not respond to other therapies.MethodsIn all, 14 patients (F/M = 9/5; 49.5 ± 11.5 years) and 13 controls (F/M = 8/5; 47.3 ± 8.0 years) with long-COVID symptoms attributed to MCA were evaluated. Patients were treated with fexofenadine (180 mg/day) and famotidine (40 mg/day). Fatigue, brain fog, abdominal disorders, and increased heart rate were evaluated in treated and untreated patients at baseline and 20 days later.ResultsLong-COVID symptoms disappeared completely in 29% of treated patients. There was a significant improvement in each of the considered symptoms (improved or disappeared) in all treated patients, and the improvement grade was significantly greater in treated patients compared to controls. No significant differences in the outcomes were observed in the controls.ConclusionsOur data confirm that histamine receptors blockade may be an effective target to successfully treat long-COVID. Our finding supports the underlying role of MCA in the pathophysiology of long-COVID. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:15:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-444bda3392cc41b9be77b10610079ff1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-055X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:15:17Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-444bda3392cc41b9be77b10610079ff12023-07-17T11:25:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine2297-055X2023-07-011010.3389/fcvm.2023.12026961202696Antihistamines improve cardiovascular manifestations and other symptoms of long-COVID attributed to mast cell activationFabrizio Salvucci0Roberto Codella1Adriana Coppola2Irene Zacchei3Gabriella Grassi4Maria Luisa Anti5Nicolita Nitisoara6Livio Luzi7Livio Luzi8Carmine Gazzaruso9Internal Medicine, Clinica Santa Rita del Gruppo Policlinico di Monza, Vercelli, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyCentre for Applied Clinical Research (Ce.R.C.A.), Istituto Clinico Beato Matteo, Vigevano, ItalyCardiovascular and Metabolic Department, Ticinello Cardiovascular and Metabolic Centre, Pavia, ItalyCardiovascular and Metabolic Department, Ticinello Cardiovascular and Metabolic Centre, Pavia, ItalyCardiovascular and Metabolic Department, Ticinello Cardiovascular and Metabolic Centre, Pavia, ItalyInternal Medicine, Clinica Santa Rita del Gruppo Policlinico di Monza, Vercelli, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Endocrinology, IRCCS Multimedica, Milan, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyIntroductionLong-COVID is a broadly defined condition and there are no effective therapies. Cardiovascular manifestations of long-COVID include high heart rate, postural tachycardia, and palpitations. Previous studies have suggested that mast cell activation (MCA) may play a role in the pathophysiology of long-COVID, including in the mechanisms of its cardiovascular manifestations. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a treatment with blockers of histamine receptors in patients with long-COVID who did not respond to other therapies.MethodsIn all, 14 patients (F/M = 9/5; 49.5 ± 11.5 years) and 13 controls (F/M = 8/5; 47.3 ± 8.0 years) with long-COVID symptoms attributed to MCA were evaluated. Patients were treated with fexofenadine (180 mg/day) and famotidine (40 mg/day). Fatigue, brain fog, abdominal disorders, and increased heart rate were evaluated in treated and untreated patients at baseline and 20 days later.ResultsLong-COVID symptoms disappeared completely in 29% of treated patients. There was a significant improvement in each of the considered symptoms (improved or disappeared) in all treated patients, and the improvement grade was significantly greater in treated patients compared to controls. No significant differences in the outcomes were observed in the controls.ConclusionsOur data confirm that histamine receptors blockade may be an effective target to successfully treat long-COVID. Our finding supports the underlying role of MCA in the pathophysiology of long-COVID.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1202696/fulllong-COVIDhistamine receptorsmast cell activationantihistaminestreatment |
| spellingShingle | Fabrizio Salvucci Roberto Codella Adriana Coppola Irene Zacchei Gabriella Grassi Maria Luisa Anti Nicolita Nitisoara Livio Luzi Livio Luzi Carmine Gazzaruso Antihistamines improve cardiovascular manifestations and other symptoms of long-COVID attributed to mast cell activation Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine long-COVID histamine receptors mast cell activation antihistamines treatment |
| title | Antihistamines improve cardiovascular manifestations and other symptoms of long-COVID attributed to mast cell activation |
| title_full | Antihistamines improve cardiovascular manifestations and other symptoms of long-COVID attributed to mast cell activation |
| title_fullStr | Antihistamines improve cardiovascular manifestations and other symptoms of long-COVID attributed to mast cell activation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antihistamines improve cardiovascular manifestations and other symptoms of long-COVID attributed to mast cell activation |
| title_short | Antihistamines improve cardiovascular manifestations and other symptoms of long-COVID attributed to mast cell activation |
| title_sort | antihistamines improve cardiovascular manifestations and other symptoms of long covid attributed to mast cell activation |
| topic | long-COVID histamine receptors mast cell activation antihistamines treatment |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2023.1202696/full |
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