Scientists Uncover Long Term Effects of COVID-19, Virus Attacks Vital OrgansThe founder of Scripps Research Translational Institute says the coronavirus can attack the kidneys, heart, and brain in addition to lungs.
By Lauren Coronado • Published July 2, 2020 • Updated on July 2, 2020 at 10:52 pm
>> SCIENTISTS ARE STARTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF COVID-19 MAY HAVE ON PATIENTS. RESEARCH PROVES THE VIRUS ATTACKS MORE THAN JUST THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM. LAUREN CORONADO IS UNCOVERING THESE NEW DEVELOPMENTS. >> Reporter: I'M OUTSIDE OF SCRIPPS RESEARCH LAB WHERE THE SCIENTISTS ARE SPENDING LONG HOURS, SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. HE TELLS ME MANY COVID-19 PATIENTS WILL SUFFER FROM CHRONIC S SYMPTOMS. HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL LAST. I CHECKED WITH A CORONAVIRUS PATIENT. >> WE'VE SENT THEM. >> DR. TOPOL IS HEAD OF SCRIPPS RESEARCH IN LA JOLLA. >> THINGS ARE STILL DIFFICULT TO DO ON MY OWN. >> Reporter: HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CORONAVIRUS MID APRIL. 21 DAYS IN THE HOSPITAL AND ON A VENTILATOR. >> WALKING DIDN'T HAPPEN FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK OFF THE VENT LATOR. >> MONTHS LATER AND DR. TOPOL TELLS ME HE'S STILL WORKING ON IT. >> HEART, KIDNEY, PANCREAS. ALSO THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, LIVER, BRAIN. >> DO YOU KNOW HOW SEVERE THE DAMAGE IS TO THOSE OTHER ORGANS? >> I WISH I COULD TELL YOU. MOST OF THE STUDIES HAVE BEEN ON THE LUNGS. THAT'S WHERE HE FEELS THE GREATEST IMPACT OF THE VIRUS. >> THIS LUNG THING I HAVE? THAT MIGHT BE PERMANENT. >> Reporter: HE'S HOPING OTHER THINGS ARE NOT PERMANENT, LIKE STRESS TO HIS HEART. >> Reporter: EXPERIENCING INCREASED FATIGUE. >> IT'S A PROCESSION. ASYMPTOMATIC. REPORTING LIVE. >>> THERE IS STILL VERY LITTLE KNOWN ABOUT THE VIRUS. HE SAYS","video_id":"1759876675535_163","video_length":"146446","video_provider":"mpx","alleypack_schedule_unpublish":"","feed_remote_id":"mpx_1759876675535","feed_thumbnail_url":""}" data-livestream="false" data-title="Coronavirus May Be Damaging More Than the Respiratory System" data-vidcid="1:13:2358588" data-vidurl="https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/coronavirus-may-be-damaging-more-than-the-respiratory-system/2358588/" data-islead="true" data-catnames="{"677803":"News","461":"Local","681115":"Videos"}" data-tagnames="{"715140":"coronavirus","731112":"coronavirus pandemic","721428":"Covid-19"}" data-customdata="{"ContentPartner":"None","Source":"WEBFM","SyndicationAllowed":"true","mSNVideoCategories":"MSN Video v4 Connector-most watched news","mSNVideoContentSupplierID":"NBC_Local","mSNVideoCountry":"us","subtitle":"nosubtitle","uploadedByTeam":"1","youtubeChannel":"None"}" data-autoplay="true" data-component-initialized="true" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; flex-basis: unset; max-width: 100%; width: 800px; position: relative;">
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Scientists are starting to learn more about the long-term effects COVID-19 may have on patients as research shows the disease attacks more than just the respiratory system.
NBC 7 spoke with the founder of Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, Dr. Eric Topol, about new COVID-19 developments he uncovered.
Turns out after a COVID infection many people have lingering symptoms, not just their lungs, but fatigue and possibly other organs
Eric Topol, M.D.Michael Weiss of Chula Vista can attest to Dr. Topol’s findings.
“Things are still difficult to do on my own,” said Weiss, who was diagnosed with COVID-19 in mid-April and spent 21 days in the hospital. He spent 10 of those days hooked up to a ventilator.
“Walking didn’t happen for at least another week off the ventilator,” said Weiss. Months later, he said he’s still trying to regain strength. Dr. Topol said Weiss’ road to recovery can be a long one, and it may take a toll on other organs in his body.
“[Organs impacted can be;] the heart, and the kidneys, the pancreas, which can induce diabetes, the gastrointestinal track, the liver, the brain. There’s hardly any organ that’s not subject to the virus’ infection,” said Dr. Topol.
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He said he doesn’t know how severe the damage can be, because little research focused outside the lungs has been conducted.
Weiss said he feels most residual effects of the virus in his lungs.
“This lung thing that I have, where I feel like top out, that might be permanent,” said Weiss. He said he’s hoping other effects are not permanent, like stress to his heart.
“They set me up for EKGs and they wanted me to do a nuclear stress test,” said Weiss. He said he has also experienced lack on concentration and extreme fatigue.
Dr. Topol said asymptomatic people can also be at risk for long-term effects from the virus.
“You can have not only a silent infection, but silent damage internally…We’ve seen autopsies now where people have died and we’re seeing all these organs effected,” Dr. Topol said.
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