Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 01, 2025 2 hours, 22 minutes ago
Medical News: COVID-19 Spike Protein Linked to Dangerous Heart Rhythm Issues
Researchers from The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University College of Engineering, The Ohio State University Medical Center, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Gnome Diagnostics LLC, and The Frick Center for Heart Failure and Arrhythmia at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have uncovered compelling evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein itself can damage the heart and trigger abnormal rhythms. Their findings show that it is not always the virus directly infecting the heart, but rather the spike protein setting off inflammation and tissue disruption that leads to atrial arrhythmias.
COVID-19 Spike Protein Drives Heart Rhythm Problems
According to this
Medical News report, when the spike protein was introduced into the bloodstream, it sparked inflammation, injured blood vessels, and disrupted the electrical balance inside the heart. These changes explain why many COVID-19 patients, and even long COVID sufferers, experience heart complications long after the initial infection has passed.
How the Research Was Conducted
To investigate, researchers injected spike protein into laboratory mice. Within just five days, the animals displayed abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. These conditions make the heart beat irregularly, reducing its ability to pump blood efficiently and increasing the risk of stroke or heart failure.
Detailed tissue analysis revealed that the spike protein caused widespread inflammation in blood vessels of the heart. Essential proteins like connexin-43 and sodium channel NaV1.5, which normally ensure proper electrical conduction, were displaced. This disrupted the structure of intercalated discs—the specialized junctions that help heart cells beat in sync—directly promoting arrhythmias.
Inflammation and Heart Damage
Both S1 and S2 components of the spike protein were shown to be harmful. High doses of either led to elevated inflammatory molecules including IL-6, TNF-α, and caspase-3, while also damaging small vessels in the heart. This vascular damage caused leakage of blood cells and fluid into surrounding tissue, further aggravating the risk of irregular heartbeats. These harmful effects were observed without the virus being present, proving that the spike protein alone can drive dangerous cardiovascular changes.
Implications for Patients
Arrhythmias are common in severe COVID-19 cases, and this study explains why they also persist in long COVID. Even when infection subsides, lingering spike protein and inflammation may continue to disrupt heart function. The findings highlight the urgent need for therapies that protect blood vessels and reduce inflammation to lower the risk of heart disease in COVID-19 survivors.
Final Analysis
The research confirms that the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is not merely a viral entry tool but an act
ive agent of heart damage. By itself, it can trigger inflammation, compromise blood vessels, and interfere with the electrical signaling system of the heart, producing arrhythmias that may be life-threatening. These results underline the importance of continued monitoring of heart health in COVID-19 survivors and the development of treatments that target inflammation and vascular protection.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Scientific Reports.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s41598-025-12807-9
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/mild-covid-19-triggers-long-lasting-subtle-heart-changes
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/warning-exaggerated-heart-rate-surges-in-post-covid-individuals-linked-to-hidden-lung-and-heart-damage
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/study-finds-that-sars-cov-2-antibody-positivity-appears-to-be-associated-with-an-increased-risk-of-left-ventricular-hypertrophy
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