Pooling of blood in the legs causing them to turn a bluish color is the latest symptom researchers have linked to long COVID-19, according to a researcher at the University of Leeds in the U.K.
Manoj Sivan, MD, the senior author of the study published Aug. 11 in The Lancet focused on the case of one 33-year-old patient who had previously been diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which increases heart rate, and said that since his COVID-19 infection he had been experiencing discoloration in his legs.
Dr. Sivan found that the patient's legs would turn bright red upon standing, but became more blue as time went on. After 10 minutes, the patient experienced itching sensations in his legs as well.
"This was a striking case of acrocyanosis in a patient who had not experienced it before his COVID-19 infection," Dr. Sivan said in an Aug. 11 news release. "Patients experiencing this may not be aware that it can be a symptom of Long Covid and dysautonomia and may feel concerned about what they are seeing. Similarly, clinicians may not be aware of the link between acrocyanosis and Long Covid."
While further research is necessary to understand more about the link between the two, Dr. Sivan noted that awareness and "more effective assessment and management approaches" are also important to focus on.