Long-COVID holistic treatment with apheresis: At the Paracelsus Clinic Lustmühle, we rely on this therapy, which in our experience delivers promising results. It helps patients to alleviate their symptoms and support their regeneration. In this newsletter, we share some case studies that give an insight into the possible positive effects of apheresis.
Long-COVID and its effects
By now we have all heard of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) behind the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 disease. Most of us have been exposed to the virus. Many across the world have been vaccinated against it. Here is a list of the companies that make COVID vaccines as recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO): Pfizer BioNTech, Oxford AstraZeneca, Sinopharm BIBP, Moderna, Janssen, CoronaVac, Covaxin, Novavax, Convidecia and Sanofi-GSK (1). As well, another seven companies are being considered by WHO.
With so much focus on the prevention of COVID via vaccinations, only a moderate amount of resources has been focused on the care of patients who have 1) experienced COVID and are experiencing symptoms associated with Long-COVID and 2) patients who’ve been vaccinated against COVID, and are experiencing symptoms related specifically to this.
Unfortunately, it is taboo in contemporary medical settings, and among many standard medical practitioners, to discuss a potential link between COVID vaccines and potential associated symptoms. It is much more “accepted” to focus the attention on the Long-COVID linked to the contraction of the virus itself.
What are four clinical phenotypes of Long-COVID? According to an article in The Lancet (08/2023) they include (2):
- Chronic fatigue syndrome with headaches and memory disorders
- Respiratory syndrome, which includes cough and difficulty breathing
- Chronic pain
- Neurosensorial syndrome, which causes an altered sense of taste and smell
There are standard treatment options for the aforementioned as listed on the Cleveland Clinic website (an American hospital) (3):
- Medication to relieve coughs, headaches, anxiety and depression
- Stellate blockade or olfactory training
- Physical Therapy
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Counseling
Obviously, these treatments are covered by insurance, which helps minimize the financial burden on this group of patients. However, the Paracelsus Clinic has taken a different approach, by combining Apheresis with individualized diagnostic care to best and accurately support the patient’s health interests.
Assessment
With every patient, we have to manage both their symptoms and help provide a baseline understanding of why the virus, or a secondary effect from the vaccine, is negatively affecting their health. Most of our patients are experiencing the primary symptoms of fatigue and headaches since contracting the virus or being vaccinated.
However, to be transparent, of the patients who come to us with these symptoms, almost 98% of them have experienced symptoms since being vaccinated to SARS-COV2. The other patients who experienced SARS-COV2 without having been vaccinated were eventually able to return to normal health within 2-6 weeks after the initial infection.
How do we know this?
We use a standard SARS-COV2 antibody test measured in BAU/ml (binding antibody units)/ml. This test can be done with any lab. Here is an example of a result of a patient, 54-year-old male, who was never vaccinated but did test twice positive for SARS-COV2, one time at the end of 2021 and later again in late Spring of 2022:
This is another patient, 75-year-old male, who had contracted the virus one time and was also not vaccinated:
In both cases, the patients are symptom free and the antibody results, Immunoglobulin G (IgG), simply represent that the patient has seen the virus before.
Let’s compare these results with patients who were vaccinated and came to our clinic with various health complaints, including fatigue and headaches:
A 20-year-old female patient received three vaccinations with the last vaccine given in January 2023. This patient came to us in September 2024.
The above results show an above-average immune response to the vaccination administered more than 12 months earlier in a patient who has not experienced any other acute COVID disease in the last 8 weeks.
The next result is from a three-time vaccinated, 60-year-old male, having symptoms of fatigue and brain fog. His last vaccination was in June 2022, with a similar explanation to the above mentioned:
This result comes from a 68-year-old woman who has been vaccinated twice (the last vaccination was in April 2022) and is currently suffering from brain fog, headaches and lack of energy.
In this case, too, the patient shows an increased immune IgG titer after the COVID vaccination and has not been acutely ill with COVID in the last 8 weeks.
According to work done at the University of San Diego, which has collaborated closely with the SALK Institute in Germany (Germany’s leading non-profit research institute), the antibody load after vaccination should return somewhere near a “negative value” within 6-months (4,5). Hence, and popularized, is the idea of needing a vaccine booster to “restore protection”. However, we have found the opposite to be true for our patients, that an extremely elevated level of immunoglobulin reaction to the booster remains after the 6 months with severe side effects. The reasons for this happening cannot be explained in the current scientific literature.
Cause and Effect?
The novelty of the virus caught the scientific community unprepared. Massive research efforts and financial resources were invested to find a protective solution in the form of a vaccine. With time, we are now learning more about the long-term effects of a vaccine against SARS-COV2.
Our patients have reported the following symptoms since being vaccinated against SARS-COV2:
- Tiredness
- Hot flushes (in non-perimenopausal, menopausal women)
- Brain fog
- GI complaints (mainly constipation)
- Unexplained feelings of dizziness
- Tiredness or loss of energy that is difficult to understand
- Unexplained skin rash
- Chronic illnesses that come and go
- Difficulty concentrating on tasks
- Emotional instability
There are other symptoms, but these vary from patient to patient and are often related to each individual’s medical history.
It is always “difficult” to say that one treatment “caused” another, unless every patient had exactly the same outcome. In medicine, we have to summarize the experiences of our patients and consider that there might be “a link” between their symptoms after vaccination against SARS-COV2.
Holistic treatment approach at the Paracelsus Clinic
Because we value each patient in their unique form of “unwellness”, it is of great importance for us to offer targeted and thorough diagnostic tests to customize their treatment.
The tests include: Microbiome analysis, testing for toxins such as metals and plastics, the adrenal index, testing for chronic viruses, hormonal health and, in more complex cases, genetic testing. In combination with our advanced treatment for Long COVID, apheresis, we have achieved the best results for our patients.
Holistic treatment of long COVID with apheresis
Plasma apheresis is a medical procedure in which plasma is separated from the blood to remove harmful substances before it is returned to the body. Our apheresis machine offers an advanced double filter system. The first filter separates the plasma from the blood. The plasma is then slightly heated before being passed into the second filter. The purpose of this unique, powerful second filter is to remove immune complexes, protein-binding toxic metals and other harmful substances (see explanation below). By heating the plasma, the filtering process becomes significantly more effective than at a body temperature of 38.6 °C. As a result, faster results can be achieved with fewer apheresis treatments.
What are immune complexes that can be filtered by plasma apheresis?
Immune complexes are formed when antigens bind to antibodies. Their accumulation can contribute to various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Some important immune complexes include:
- Circulating immune complexes (CICs) – These are formed when antigens, including viral proteins such as spike proteins, bind to antibodies and potentially trigger inflammation and autoimmune reactions
- Spike protein-containing immune complexes – These are formed when spike proteins bind to antibodies, leading to activation of the immune system and possible inflammatory reactions
- Rheumatoid factors (RF) – autoantibodies that form immune complexes in rheumatoid arthritis
- Complement-containing complexes – Contain components such as C3b and C4b, which are often found in chronic inflammatory diseases
- Pathogen-associated complexes – immune complexes that arise in response to viral and bacterial infections, such as post-viral immune reactions
- Cryoglobulins – Abnormal proteins that precipitate at low temperatures and are associated with chronic infections and autoimmune diseases
The advanced filtration system used at Paracelsus Clinic to treat Long-Covid holistically can help to remove these harmful immune complexes. This could also benefit patients with autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, chronic inflammation and toxin overload.
Case study 1: A 20-year-old female patient
Two years ago, a young woman from the USA found herself in a life situation in which she no longer recognized herself. A competitive climber, full of energy and passion, she was suddenly overwhelmed by fatigue, joint pain and incessant insomnia. In 2021, she was diagnosed with Lyme disease and her health deteriorated to the point where even everyday tasks led to exhaustion. Her family, desperate to find a solution, even considered taking her out of her studies to give her a chance to recover.
When she arrived at the Paracelsus Clinic, she was physically and emotionally exhausted. Years of antibiotic treatments – including intravenous therapies – had weakened her microbiome and her body was struggling to get back into balance.
Our first step was clear: before we could tackle her complaints directly, we needed to rebuild her strength. For the first ten days, we focused on adrenal recovery, gut health and supporting the immune system.
A thorough root cause analysis during this time revealed something crucial: her lab results showed extremely high levels of coronavirus antibodies (Table 1) as well as elevated markers for CMV and EBV-twoviruses that can further weaken the immune system. Given her history of COVID vaccinations and the timing of the onset of her symptoms, we considered the possibility of long-Covid or post-vaccine syndrome.
With this knowledge, we recommended a targeted treatment plan that included two apheresis therapies to filter inflammatory substances, immunomodulatory therapies and nicotine patches that can help regulate the immune response. She underwent two apheresis sessions and, to our delight, her antibody levels began to normalize (Table 1).
For the first time in years, she felt a change. Her energy returned, her sleep improved and the unbearable exhaustion began to disappear. The journey is not yet complete, but she now has hope – hope that she can climb again, study again and lead the dynamic life she once had.
At Paracelsus Clinic, we don’t just treat symptoms; we find the causes and restore balance. Your story is a testament to the power of personalized medicine and the resilience of the human body when it receives the right support.
A note: The difference in the change between the first and second apheresis was minimal, as an additional infusion was administered the morning before the treatment. This led to a dilution of their blood plasma, which reduced the amount of immunoglobulins that could be filtered out.
Case study 2: A 60-year-old male patient
When this patient arrived at the Paracelsus Clinic, he was struggling with muscle weakness in both legs, chronic back pain and persistent discomfort that spread from his neck towards his heart. A series of water-skiing injuries and previous treatments for Lyme disease had weakened his body. A year earlier, he had undergone a heart stent procedure, but he still felt far from a full recovery.
Through our root cause analysis, we identified an often-overlooked factor: elevated SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and D-dimer levels, which likely contributed to silent inflammation (Table 2). His lab results reflected a post-COVID immune response, which we addressed through plasma apheresis, the Paracelsus Biofilm Program, and specialized treatments for his heart and chronic pain . Dental treatments also supported his recovery.
His transformation was remarkable. Not only did his leg cramps decrease dramatically, but his cardiovascular risk factors improved so much that he was able to stop taking two medications. Motivated to make a full recovery, he also made lifestyle changes. He improved his diet and exercise habits and achieved a significant weight loss from 112 to 88 kilograms.
Case study 3: A 59-year-old female patient
A mother of two children came to the Paracelsus Clinic with gastrointestinal complaints, a high toxic load and Long Covid symptoms. Her laboratory results showed elevated Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and high SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, as well as elevated D-dimer levels, indicating silent inflammation (Table 3).
We focused on restoring her gut health and supporting detoxification, including using apheresis to reduce her toxic load. After treatment, she saw a significant improvement in her symptoms. Today, she continues to do well – her digestion is normal, her appetite is strong, and she remains pain free.
*No total amount of IgG measured on 17.12. due to a laboratory change beforehand.
Conclusion
Treating Long COVID holistically with plasma apheresis – The success of our treatment of Long COVID patients is supported by the methods of biological medicine, such as infusions, dietary changes, neural therapy and microbiome revitalization. Only through an individually tailored approach can we achieve such great success in patient care. Similarly, the combination of this treatment with apheresis has accelerated patient recovery, while at the same time allaying concerns about potential side effects. Essentially a win-win situation for any patient considering the Paracelsus Clinic in Lustmühle for Long COVID-related health issues.
If you experience similar symptoms or would like to find out more about our treatments, please visit our website or contact us directly by phone on +41 71 335 71 71 or by email at info@paracelsus.com.
Save this article as a PDF for later. Click here for the PDF version!
References
- Website: https://covid19.trackvaccines.org/agency/who/
- Gentilotti E et al. Clinical phenotypes and quality of life to define post-COVID-19 syndrome: a cluster analysis of the multinational, prospective ORCHESTRA cohort. Lancet: EClinicalMedicine. 2023; 21(62): 102107.
- Internet site: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25111-long-covid
- Internet site: https://zapcovid19.ucsd.edu/understanding-your-test-results/index.html
- Slomka S et al. Assessment of Reactivity to the Administration of the mRNA Vaccine after Six Months of Observation. Vaccines. 2023; 11.
