Brasília – Brazilian researchers managed to detect the coronavirus in retinae for the first time. The study can contribute to better understand the dynamics of the virus and the sequelae in infected patients.
The research is led by the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) with funding from Brazil’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
The researchers scanned the retinae of patients that died from COVID-19 and compared them with pictures of their eyes when they were still alive to analyze their differences and how to determine the presence of the virus by scanning the retina.
According to UFRJ professor and coordinator of the study, Rubens Belfort Jr, the retina is a relevant biomarker as it’s part of the nervous system but is easir to access, thus allowing to identify the presence of the virus in some body parts like the nervous system itself.
In addition to identifying the presence and reservoirs of the virus in the bodies of patients, the professor explains that the results of the study can help in the process of understanding and fighting the sequelae in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.
“The research can help understand the existence of sequelae and how to fight them, such as those related to neurological disorders that some COVID-19 patients have developed,” Rubens Belfort said.
The information gathered by the research can contribute to better understand the causes of the sequelae. “Do they develop because of an immune response or are they related to the remaining virus?” he wonders.
Translated by Guilherme Miranda