COVID-19 antibodies in some recovered patients attack the body instead of the virus, leading to some people suffering long-term effects of the virus, a new study suggests.
This comes after a growing number of 'recovered' COVID-19 patients said they were still suffering long-term effects of the virus.
Researchers from Atlanta's Emory University examined 52 patients who had relapses of the virus and found their immune system reacted to autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
The research found they are producing molecules called 'autoantibodies,' which attack genetic material from cells rather than the virus.
The findings follow a study of COVID-19 patients in the UK who were hospitalised. It found 74 percent of patients were still suffering symptoms three months after they were discharged.
These symptoms have affected people no matter what the age - including 26-year-old Kiwi Freya Sawbridge, who told Newshub she still suffers from the virus since testing positive in March.
"I have symptoms 24/7 which includes temperature, chest pain, dizziness, brain pain, heart palpitations, muscle spasms, numbing," she said.
"I've relapsed six times in the last six months which means all my low-lying symptoms dramatically worsen."
"I also cannot exercise without flare-ups."
If COVID-19 autoantibodies turn out to be as long-lasting as they are with autoimmune disorders, long COVID may not be curable.
