ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

Abstract Number: 1110

Microvascular Abnormalities in COVID-19 Survivors and LONG COVID

Rosanna Campitiello1, Emanuele Gotelli2, Elvis Hysa3, Carmen Pizzorni4, Alberto Sulli5, Sabrina Paolino6, Alessandro Pinelli7, Tamara Vojinovic2, vanessa smith8 and Maurizio Cutolo2, 1Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy, Genova, Liguria, Italy, 2Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy, Genova, Italy, 3Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genoa, Italy, Genoa, Italy, 4Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy, Genoa, Italy, 5Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy., Genova, Italy, 6Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties (Di.M.I.), University of Genova; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Liguria, Italy, 7Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties (Di.M.I.), University of Genova; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, 8Ghent University Hospital, Gent, Belgium

Meeting: ACR Convergence 2024

Keywords: , ,

Session Information

Date: Sunday, November 17, 2024

Title: Miscellaneous Rheumatic & Inflammatory Diseases Poster II

Session Type: Poster Session B

Session Time: 10:30AM-12:30PM

Background/Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infective disease known to cause mainly respiratory symptoms along with a wide range of systemic manifestations [1]. Long COVID syndrome seems to present a burden for COVID survivors who may suffer at least of persistent fatigue, myalgia and dyspnea. [1] Of note capillary loss was recently observed significantly more evident in acute COVID patients and Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) is validated, non- invasive tool able to study microvascular morphology [2]. Of note capillary loss was recently observed significantly more evident in acute COVID patients [3,4]. The aim of our study was to assess microvascular status in COVID-19 survivors and long-COVID patients using NVC analysis.

Methods: Seventy-five COVID-19 survivors (34 women and 41 men; mean age 58±13 years) after hospitalization (mean days from disease onset 254.05±323.17) underwent NVC examination. 13 long-COVID patients were defined for the days since the end of acute COVID-19 ( > 6 months). The assessment focused on capillaroscopic parameters, such as capillary numerosity, dilated capillaries, giant capillaries, microhemorrhages and capillary ramifications (abnormal shapes/neoangiogenesis). Data was collected using semiquantitative values (N0: absence, N1: < 33%, N2: 33%-66%, N3: >66%). A control group of sixty-one age and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) (44 women and 17 men; mean age 59±15 years) was enrolled in the study.

Results: Data showed a statistically significant lower number of nailfold capillaries (linear millimeter) in COVID-19 survivors when compared to HCs (t-test for independent samples 8.27±0.97vs 9.02±0.67; p< 0.01). Interestingly, in Long-COVID patients an increased presence of capillary ramifications (abnormal shapes - angiogenesis) was observed when compared to HCs (N0: 54%, N1 31%, N2 15%, vs N0 84%, N1:13.11%, N2: 1.64% p = 0.04) (Fig.1). No correlations with clinical features were observed. 

Conclusion: NVC analysis highlighted a microvascular damage in COVID survivors (reduction of absolute capillary number per linear mm) and long COVID (increase of capillary ramifications as sign of angiogenesis). Interestingly in long COVID patients the enhanced angiogenesis may underline recovery microvascular mechanisms due to chronic endothelium damage and loss of capillaries (tissue hypoxia). Nevertheless, to confirm the presence of loss of capillaries also in large numbers of patients with long COVID further analyses are ongoing. 

Disclosures: R. Campitiello: None; E. Gotelli: None; E. Hysa: None; C. Pizzorni: None; A. Sulli: AbbVie/Abbott, 5, Baldacci, 2, 5, UCB, 5; S. Paolino: None; A. Pinelli: None; T. Vojinovic: None; v. smith: Argenx, 2, BKC Moving Media Makers, 6, Boehringer-Ingelheim, 2, 5, 6, Janssen, 2, 5, 6, WebMDD Global LLC, 2; M. Cutolo: AbbVie/Abbott, 5, Amgen, 5, Balcacci, 2, 5, Boehringer-Ingelheim, 2, 5, Bristol-Myers Squibb(BMS), 2, 5, UCB, 5.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Campitiello R, Gotelli E, Hysa E, Pizzorni C, Sulli A, Paolino S, Pinelli A, Vojinovic T, smith v, Cutolo M. Microvascular Abnormalities in COVID-19 Survivors and LONG COVID [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2024; 76 (suppl 9). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/microvascular-abnormalities-in-covid-19-survivors-and-long-covid/. Accessed .

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