Session: Autoantibodies to neuronal antigens in ME/CFS and PCS

Dr Christiana Franke discussed autoantibodies directed against neuronal antigens in ME/CFS and Long COVID. These autoantibodies play a role in many neurological/neurodegenerative diseases and, for example, cause a distinct post-infectious clinical picture (NMDAR encephalitis) in almost 30% of those affected after viral herpes encephalitis. Autoantibodies against neuronal antigens have also been detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Long COVID and post-vaccine patients with neurological or cognitive symptoms. Dr Franke also presented the PoCOVit clinical trial, which aims to suppress an autoimmune reaction using blinded methylprednisolone administration, and the IA-PACS-CFS clinical trial, which aims to filter autoantibodies from the blood using blinded immunoadsorption. Analysis of the data collected in these trials is currently ongoing. Findings from this research so far suggest that autoimmunity plays a role in post-acute infection syndromes (PAIS) and ME/CFS.

​