Scientists just found a reason for the exhaustion of long COVID — microscopic clots in the blood. The study was published in the Journal of Medical Virology. Researchers discovered that patients with the condition have nearly twenty times more microscopic blood clots than healthy individuals. Unlike typical clots, these 'microclots' are wrapped in sticky, web-like structures made of DNA and enzymes released by white blood cells. These webs, known as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), act as structural armor, preventing the body from naturally breaking down the clots. This leads to a persistent blockage in the capillaries—the body's smallest blood vessels—which starves tissues of oxygen and drives chronic inflammation. This discovery marks a massive shift in how post-viral illnesses are understood. Historically, many Long COVID patients struggled to find validation because standard blood tests routinely came back normal. By showing that these microscopic clots are structurally bound to NETs, scientists are paving the way for targeted treatments, such as therapies designed to dissolve these persistent blocks. It also offers a glimmer of hope for millions suffering from other poorly understood chronic conditions, such as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), where similar microclotting patterns have been observed. source: Thierry, A. R., Usher, T., Sanchez, C., Turner, S., Venter, C., Pastor, B., Waters, M., Thompson, A., Mirandola, A., Pisareva, E., Prevostel, C., Laubscher, G. J., Kell, D. B., & Pretorius, E. Circulating Microclots Are Structurally Associated With Neutrophil Extracellular Traps and Their Amounts Are Elevated in Long COVID Patients. Journal of Medical Virology, 97(10), e70613.