Session: Functional and Morphological Changes in Mitochondria in Muscle

Prof Jürgen Steinacker presented research results on mitochondrial dysfunction in muscles in ME/CFS and Long COVID from the EPILOC study. The study found evidence of alterations in the function and shape of mitochondria. Furthermore, the structure of muscle fibers was altered or appeared to even be damaged. The mitochondrial capacity for oxidative phosphorylation, and thus for energy production for muscle cells, was impaired in a subgroup of subjects, leading to further metabolic disorders. Myocardial function was also found to be reduced. The latter finding is likely not due to myocarditis but is rather indicative of general cardiac muscle weakness.

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