The Long COVID Clinical Podcast

In this episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast, hosts Drs. Anita Chopra, Andrew Schamess, and Aaron Friedberg are joined by Dr. Michael Brode, medical director of the post-COVID-19 program at UT Health Austin, to discuss the complexities of long COVID management in the primary care setting. Dr. Brode explains how systemic inflammation and autoimmunity may contribute to symptoms like brain fog and fatigue. He highlights innovative research, including skin biopsies indicative of nerve damage in many patients, and discusses potential treatments like IVIG. Dr. Brode's insights provide a comprehensive view of long COVID as a systemic neuroimmunological disease, underscoring the need for targeted interventions and the potential for transformative patient outcomes.Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu and Carissa Lee

In this episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast, hosts Dr. Anita Chopra, Dr. Aaron Friedberg, and Carissa Lee are joined by Dr. Alba Azola, a rehabilitation physician and leading expert on long COVID at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Azola delves into the intricacies of autonomic nervous system dysregulation in long COVID and how it can manifest in diverse symptoms such as brain fog, POTS, and temperature dysregulation. The discussion explores innovative diagnostics and therapies, including blood-brain barrier studies and interventions like venous stenting. The episode offers insights into promising treatments, such as vagal nerve stimulation and IVIGs, and underscores the need for a nuanced, patient-centered approach to research and clinical management. Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu and Carissa Lee

In this episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast, hosted by Drs. Anita Chopra, Tiffany Walker, Andrew Schamess, and Aaron Friedberg, Dr. Michael Peluso shares groundbreaking insights into long COVID research. Dr. Peluso is an infectious disease physician and leader of the Long-term Impact of Infection with Novel Coronavirus (LIINC) study at UCSF. The discussion highlights the persistent presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the gut and immune system, revealing elevated immune activation in post-COVID patients and unexpected virus fragment locations. Dr. Peluso explores pivotal clinical trials with antivirals and monoclonal antibodies, emphasizing the need for better biomarkers and collaborative research efforts to accelerate diagnostics and therapies. His work aims to transform long COVID from a mysterious condition into a manageable illness, offering hope for millions affected. Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu and Carissa Lee

This episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast, hosted by Drs. Anita Chopra, Andrew Schamess, and Aaron Friedberg, features Dr. Nisha Viswanathan, internist and director of the long COVID Program at UCLA. The discussion delves into the complex relationship between long COVID and dysautonomia, including the distinctions between orthostatic intolerance, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and hyperadrenergic POTS. Dr. Viswanathan describes practical diagnostic tools such as the COMPASS 31 questionnaire and NASA Lean Test, and explores effective management strategies, including salt and fluid intake, and medications like fludrocortisone, beta blockers, and ivabradine. The conversation also touches on the overlap with conditions like ME-CFS and mast cell activation syndrome, and highlights upcoming treatments and research that promise to transform care for post-viral autonomic syndromes. The episode concludes with a focus on providing primary care physicians with actionable insights to improve patient outcomes in long COVID.Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu and Carissa Lee

In this episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast, hosted by Drs. Tiffany Walker, Anita Chopra, and Aaron Friedberg, the team welcomes Dr. Abby Cheng, an expert in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Dr. Cheng discusses the development and impact of the AAPMR's comprehensive guidance on long COVID, emphasizing the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to treatment. The conversation covers the evolution of symptom-specific guidelines into a practical compendium for primary care providers, highlighting the need for real-time support in managing long COVID. Dr. Cheng also addresses the challenges of pharmacological management, the significance of recognizing long COVID in differential diagnoses, and the latest updates on potential treatments and ongoing research efforts. The episode concludes with insights into the NIH's RECOVER TLC trials, offering hope for future advancements in long COVID care. Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu and Carissa Lee

This episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast, hosted by Drs. Anita Chopra, Andrew Schamess, and Aaron Friedberg, features Dr. Hector Bonilla, an infectious disease specialist from Stanford University School of Medicine. The discussion centers on the innovative use of repurposed medications like low-dose naltrexone and Abilify in treating long COVID and ME/CFS. Dr. Bonilla shares insights into the overlap between these conditions, highlighting symptoms such as fatigue and brain fog, and explores how these symptoms can be managed with off-label therapies. He explains the science behind targeting immune pathways and the potential of these drugs to reduce inflammation and improve patient outcomes. The episode also covers Dr. Bonilla’s clinical trials, dosing protocols, and the promising results seen in patients. It concludes with practical strategies for clinicians and patients, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based approaches in managing chronic illness.Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu and Carissa Lee

This episode of the Pediatric Long COVID Podcast, hosted by Drs. Anita Chopra and Andrew Schamess, features Dr. Laura Malone, Director of the Pediatric Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation Clinic at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. The discussion centers on the unique manifestations of long COVID in children, highlighting differences in symptoms compared to adults, such as neurological and gastrointestinal issues. Dr. Malone elaborates on the diagnostic challenges faced when children lack confirmed prior COVID infection and emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach involving neurologists, rehabilitation specialists, and mental health professionals. She also explores the current prognosis for pediatric patients, the role of emerging research in understanding physiological differences, and the success of the Pediatric Long COVID ECHO telementoring program. The episode concludes with insights into reducing stigma around post-viral syndromes in children and the ongoing need for research and education in this evolving field.Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu and Carissa Lee

This episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast, hosted by Drs. Anita Chopra and Andrew Schamess, delves into the phases of COVID-19 infection, underlying mechanisms, diagnostic biomarkers, and novel therapeutics with Dr. Daniel Griffin, a renowned infectious disease specialist and host of the "This Week in Virology " podcast. The discussion covers the progression and diagnosis of long COVID, pathobiology theories, and the involvement of the autonomic nervous system and small fiber neuropathy. Dr. Griffin highlights practical biomarkers for clinical use and discusses both non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment strategies. The conversation also addresses the impact of funding changes on research progress and future directions for managing long COVID. The episode concludes with a hopeful outlook on collaborative efforts to advance understanding and improve patient care in the face of long COVID challenges.Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu and Carissa Lee

In this episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast, hosted by Drs. Anita Chopra, Andrew Schamess, and Tiffany Walker, physician-scientist Dr. Linda Geng discusses the complexities of diagnosing and treating long COVID, the overlap with other infection-associated chronic conditions, and ongoing research efforts. Her clinical and research expertise sheds light on the heterogeneity of long COVID and potential therapeutic avenues, including the clinical approach to diagnosing long COVID and the current lack of biomarkers, phenotypic clusters and heterogeneity of long COVID patients, research directions such as repurposing drugs, pathobiology, and large-scale studies, strategies for rehabilitation and management of post-exertional malaise, and the importance of collective research efforts and future directions in long COVID care.Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu and Carissa Lee

This episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast, hosted by Drs. Anita Chopra, Andrew Schamess, and Aaron Friedberg, features Dr. Nikhil Kamat in a discussion of hematological complications in long COVID. Dr. Kamat, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, shares his expertise on microclots and immune dysregulation, revealing why current diagnostics often miss microvascular damage. The discussion delves into the formation of microclots, their manifestation in organs, and the limitations of traditional tests like D-dimer. Dr. Kamat highlights the role of inflammation in endothelial damage and discusses who is most at risk for blood-related complications post-COVID. The episode also covers emerging treatment considerations, including the controversial idea of prolonged anticoagulation, and emphasizes the importance of balancing treatment risks. This insightful conversation offers critical knowledge for clinicians, researchers, and anyone interested in the long-term impacts of COVID, providing a pathway to more targeted therapies and better patient outcomes.Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu and Carissa Lee

In this episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast, hosts Andrew Schamess and Anita Chopra discuss recent research on Long COVID at Ohio State University. They are joined by Dr. Amal Amer, a Professor of Microbial Infection and Immunity, and Dr. Heba Amer, who works in Dr. Amal's lab. Dr. Amal shares her personal experience with Long COVID and details her research on the inflammasome and caspase-4/11, proteins linked to severe inflammation and cognitive issues in Long COVID. The discussion highlights the relationship between these proteins and the inflammatory response, potential coagulopathy, and how this research could lead to new treatments. Dr. Heba Amer describes using an advanced behavioral testing system for mice to study cognitive dysfunctions related to Long COVID. The findings offer promising avenues for drug discovery and a deeper understanding of Long COVID's pathology. Additionally, future research plans and the importance of correlating mouse model data with human samples are discussed. The episode concludes with optimism about ongoing and future research efforts.Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu

This episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast, hosted by Drs. Anita Chopra, Tiffany Walker, Andrew Schamess, and Aaron Friedberg, features Dr. Andrew Ayers, a specialist in allergy and immunology. The discussion focuses on the immunological processes involved in long COVID, including immune dysregulation, immune deficiency, and the role of mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Dr. Ayers explains the complexities of the immune system's response to long COVID, potential treatments like high-dose antihistamines and other therapies, and the impact of COVID and vaccinations on immune reactions. He also delves into patient phenotypes, drug allergies, and the gut microbiome's influence on immune responses. The episode concludes with a comprehensive review of MCAS management strategies and emphasizes the challenges faced by clinicians treating long COVID. Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu

In this episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast, we engage with Dr. Iman Majd, an expert in integrative medicine, to discuss the complexities of long COVID. They explore various symptoms, including fatigue and brain fog, and delve into integrative approaches that combine conventional and alternative treatments. Dr. Majd emphasizes the importance of personalized care, the role of supplements and herbal remedies, and the significance of an anti-inflammatory diet. The conversation highlights the need for patience and collaboration between patients and healthcare providers in the journey towards recovery from long COVID. Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu

In this episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast, Dr. Hector Bonilla discusses the similarities and differences between Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME-CFS). He shares insights from his clinical and research journey, emphasizing the importance of understanding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management strategies for these post-viral conditions. The conversation highlights the need for better research, patient advocacy, and the exploration of potential treatments such as low-dose naltrexone and Abilify. Dr. Bonilla stresses the significance of listening to patients and acknowledging their symptoms as real, while also addressing the gaps in current understanding and the urgency for more clinical trials. Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu

In this episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast, the focus is on subjective cognitive impairment, commonly known as brain fog, in long COVID patients. The guests, Susan Bowman-Burpee and Katlyn Schultz, discuss the typical presentation of brain fog and the initial steps in managing patients with this symptom. They emphasize the importance of taking a comprehensive history, conducting a physical exam, and targeting interventions based on the clinical profile. They also highlight the role of rehabilitation psychology in helping patients adapt and cope with cognitive symptoms. The episode concludes with a discussion on the prognosis for long COVID patients with cognitive symptoms and the strategies that can contribute to greater success and satisfaction in treatment and recovery. Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu

Dr. Jana Friedly discusses post-exertional malaise in long COVID patients and the muscle abnormalities observed. She emphasizes the importance of pacing, prioritizing, positioning, and planning (the four Ps) in managing post-exertional malaise. Dr. Friedly also mentions the potential role of SSRIs in treating long COVID symptoms, the challenges of disability claims, and the need for healthcare providers to listen and believe patients' experiences. Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu

This episode of the Long COVID Clinical Podcast focuses on dysautonomia and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) in long COVID. The hosts, Tiffany Walker and Anita Chopra, discuss the challenges of diagnosing and managing POTS in long COVID patients. They are joined by Dr. Cindy Shibao, an autonomic disorder specialist, who provides insights into the diagnosis and treatment of POTS. The conversation covers the different phenotypes of long COVID, the symptoms and workup of dysautonomia, and potential treatments for long COVID POTS. Dr. Shibao also discusses ongoing research on treatments for long COVID POTS. Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu

In this episode, the hosts discuss the diagnosis and management of long COVID with Dr. Fernando Carnavali, an expert in the field. They cover topics such as recognizing long COVID symptoms, ordering diagnostic tests, addressing emotional distress in patients, and the proposed definition of long COVID. They also highlight the underrepresentation of minoritized groups in long COVID research and emphasize the importance of education and awareness among healthcare professionals. Overall, the episode provides valuable insights into the challenges and approaches to caring for long COVID patients. Edited and Produced by Christopher Chiu

Meet Chris Chiu, Anita Chopra, Andrew Schamess, Tiffany Walker and Aaron Friedberg as well as their journey to treating Long COVID.

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