ArticleMedical hypotheses2022
Marginal BH4 deficiencies, iNOS, and self-perpetuating oxidative stress in post-acute sequelae of Covid-19.
Article in Medical hypotheses, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- Long COVID and endometriosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC women's health · 2025Pooled it
- A perfect storm: the immunological and pathophysiological landscape of pediatric post-COVID-19 condition.Frontiers in immunology · 2026Review
- Ferroptosis in schizophrenia: Mechanisms and therapeutic potentials (Review).Molecular medicine reports · 2025Review
- Tetrahydrobiopterin in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Friend or Foe?Biomolecules · 2025Review
- Cardiovascular damage and comorbidities related to long COVID: pathomechanisms, prevention, and therapy.Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine · 2025Review
- Dapagliflozin ameliorates myocardial infarction injury through AMPKα-dependent regulation of oxidative stress and apoptosis.Heliyon · 2024Article
- A mid‑pandemic night's dream: Melatonin, from harbinger of anti‑inflammation to mitochondrial savior in acute and long COVID‑19 (Review).International journal of molecular medicine · 2024Review
- Review
- Long COVID: major findings, mechanisms and recommendations.Nature reviews. Microbiology · 2023Review
- Can Patients with Asymptomatic/Mild Illness and Moderate Illness COVID-19 Have White Matter Damage?International journal of general medicine · 2023Article
- Anti-PD-L1 therapy altered inflammation but not survival in a lethal murine hepatitis virus-1 pneumonia model.Frontiers in immunology · 2023Article
- Female reproductive health impacts of Long COVID and associated illnesses including ME/CFS, POTS, and connective tissue disorders: a literature review.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
1 author at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The treatment of post-acute sequelae of Covid-19 (PASC) has been informed primarily by symptomatic parallels with other chronic inflammatory syndromes. This manuscript takes a more systemic approach by examining how a marginal deficiency of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) resulting from mutations of the GCH1 (GTP cyclohydrolase 1) gene may result in the uncoupling of inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) early in the initial response of the innate immune system to SARS-CoV-2. The resulting production of superoxide instead of nitric oxide leads to a self-perpetuating cycle of oxidative stress with the potential to impair numerous metabolic processes and damage multiple organ systems. This marginal deficiency of BH4 may be exhibited by 30% or more of the patient population that have heterozygous or homozygous mutations of GCH1. As the cycle of oxidative stress continues, there is less BH4 available for other metabolic needs such as 1) resisting increased ferroptosis with its damage to organs, and 2) regulating the deactivation of the hyperinflammatory state. Finally, possible steps are proposed for clinical treatment of the hypothesized oxidative stress involved with PASC.
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