The new study from Northwestern University, published Feb. 17 in the journal Skeletal Radiology, outlined how different types of imaging, including ultrasound, x-rays, MRIs and CT scans, can confirm how the body is attacking itself.
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“What we have found is that the virus causes an autoimmune reaction in some patients with COVID-19. In other words, the virus deceives the body into attacking itself,” says Dr. Swati Deshmukh, author and assistant Professor at the North-West University. Feinberg School of Medicine.
When the body attacks itself, radiological images, some of which use contrasting, can show inflamed nerves or dead tissues, the study showed.
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It also shows how the impact of COVID-19 months could last, which Tajma Hodzik, 31, of Albany Park is currently experiencing. She battled COVID-19 in June 2020, but its impact was long-lasting and caused an autoimmune disease called COVID-induced psoriatic arthritis.
“My whole body and all the joints in my body were inflamed. I could not get out of bed. I could not do anything independently. I could not shower, walk,” Hodzik recalled. The pain sent her to hospital for a second time in 2020.
Hodzik explains psoriatic arthritis in this way: “It’s an autoimmune disease. It’s two parts. The psoriasis piece is the spots and rash all over my body. The arthritis is what we think of, arthritis as a chronic condition. “
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The radiological images take an expert eye to understand. Dr. Deshmukh studied various images of other COVID-19 patients, including inflamed nerves, dead and damaged tissues, blood clots, and damaged joints.
In general, these images can help doctors make medical decisions for their patients, she said.
“Based on what imaging shows, we can then recommend the best next steps for diagnosis, treatment and management through this long road of recovery,” Dr Deshmukh said. “For that reason, radiologists are sometimes called the doctor’s doctor.”
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Although imaging helps explain the problem, Hodzic is still worried about the future and what it means for her recovery, especially since she is now using medication to control her psoriatic arthritis.
“We do not know. We do not know if it is something that will last for as long as I live, next year, two years, five years,” she said. “Or if I can wean myself off medication. It’s quite a big unknown.”
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