One of the most widely known risks associated with COVID-19 vaccine Myocarditis is particularly common in young men, and a new study from Stanford University sheds light on why this rare condition can occur.
Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, occurs in about 1 in 140,000 people after the first dose of the vaccine and in 1 in 32,000 after the second dose, according to a Stanford University press release. between Men under 30 years oldthat rises to 1 in 16,750.
Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, and heart palpitations and can occur just 1 to 3 days after vaccination. Another marker is increased levels of cardiac troponin, which indicates that the heart muscle is damaged.
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In most cases, people who experience myocarditis recover quickly and completely. heart functionAccording to study author Joseph Wu, MD, director of the Stanford Heart and Vascular Institute and professor of medicine and radiology.
“This is not a heart attack in the traditional sense,” Wu told FOX News Digital. “There is no blockage of the blood vessels as seen in the most common heart attacks. If the symptoms are mild and the inflammation is not causing structural damage to the heart, we simply monitor the patient to ensure they recover.”
However, in rare cases, severe heart inflammation may occur. lead to hospitalizationserious illness or death, Wu noted.
new stanford research The study was conducted in collaboration with The Ohio State University and aimed to determine the causes of myocarditis. The research team analyzed blood samples from vaccinated people, some with myocarditis and some without.
They found that people with myocarditis have two proteins in their blood, CXCL10 and IFN-gamma, which are released by immune cells. These proteins further activate inflammation.
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“We believe these two are the main causes of myocarditis,” Wu said. “Your body needs these cytokines prevent viruses. Although essential for the immune response, it can be toxic if ingested in large quantities. ”
In mice and heart tissue models, the presence of high concentrations of these proteins caused signs of cardiac inflammation that resembled mild myocarditis.
“One of the most impressive findings was how much we could reduce cardiac damage in our models by specifically blocking these two cytokines without shutting down the entire (desired) immune response. vaccine” Wu told FOX News Digital, noting that targeted, “fine-tuned” immune approaches may be enough to protect the heart.
“This shows potential for future ways to prevent or treat myocarditis in those most at risk while preserving the benefits of vaccination,” he added.
The research team also found that genistein, a natural estrogen-like compound found in soybeans, reduced inflammation in clinical trials, but this has not yet been tested in humans.
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The results of this study were published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
“This is a very complex study,” FOX News Senior Medical Analyst Dr. Mark Siegel told FOX News Digital. “Myocarditis is extremely rare; immune system It makes sense. ”
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“Myocarditis is worse with COVID-19, it’s much more common, and it’s generally much more severe.”
Wu agreed, adding: COVID infection Approximately 10 times more likely to cause myocarditis compared to mRNA-based vaccines.
The researchers emphasized that: COVID-19 vaccine It has been “rigorously tested” for safety and proven to have an “excellent safety record.”
“MRNA vaccines remain an important tool against COVID-19, and this study helps explain rare side effects and suggests ways to make future vaccines even safer, rather than a reason to avoid vaccination,” Wu said.
“For almost all groups, the overall benefits of COVID-19 vaccination clearly outweigh the small risk of myocarditis.”
The study had several limitations, chief among them the fact that most of the data came from experimental systems (mice and human cells in the lab), which does not provide a complete picture of how myocarditis develops and heals. real patientaccording to Mr. Wu.
“Our research is still in the preclinical (mouse and human cells) stage, so these findings don’t change what people should do now,” he said. “Clinical studies will be needed to confirm whether targeted treatments are safe and effective.”
The researchers also added that other types of vaccines may increase the risk of myocarditis.
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“Other vaccines can cause myocarditis and inflammation issues, but the symptoms tend to be more diffuse,” he said in a release. “Furthermore, the risks of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines have received intense public scrutiny and media coverage. If you experience chest pain after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, you should go to the hospital and get tested. If your serum troponin is positive, you will be diagnosed with myocarditis. If your muscles or joints hurt after vaccination, you will be diagnosed with myocarditis.” influenza vaccinejust blow it away. ”
This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Gutter Jensen Foundation.
