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This unaltered story was originally published on RT Russian state media. [1]
Published here by permission.
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Study reveals dangerous long-term effect of Covid-19
By: ['Russia Today']
Date: 2021-12
A new study claims to have found a direct link between kidney failure and coronavirus disease
Covid-19 directly infects kidney cells and can cause severe damage to the vital organ, according to a scientific study which proves a link between serious infection and organ failure.
In a report published in the scientific journal Cell Stem Cell on Friday, a group of researchers suggested that Covid-19 can cause serious complications affecting a patient’s kidneys.
“SARS-CoV-2 directly infects kidney cells and is associated with increased tubule-interstitial kidney fibrosis in patient autopsy samples,” the study claimed, acknowledging that while kidney failure “is frequently observed during and after COVID-19,” it had previously been inconclusive as to “whether this is a direct effect of the virus.”
Kidney fibrosis is characterized by the formation of scar tissue in the organ, and can ultimately lead to end-stage kidney failure.
After infecting a kidney sample with the virus, the researchers claimed that the results proved Covid-19 can “directly infect kidney cells and induce cell injury with subsequent fibrosis.”
The results could explain the frequency of kidney injury in those with Covid-19 and the appearance of chronic kidney disease in those who are suffering from long-covid, they concluded.
Scientists have long observed kidney issues in Covid-19 patients, despite the virus’ reputation for damaging the lungs.
Last year, Johns Hopkins University Associate Professor of Medicine, C. John Sperati, warned that it was currently unknown whether Covid-19 patients who suffer from kidney damage would recover from their injuries.
Sperati also suggested that the appearance of kidney damage in Covid-19 patients could be due to the fact that many of those hospitalized with the virus suffered from pre-existing conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, which both increase risk of kidney disease.
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