COVID-19 Virus Found to Damage Esophagus Lining and Cause Ongoing Acid Reflux and Heartburn Issues
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team May 03, 2025 3 weeks, 1 hour, 51 minutes ago
Medical News: Brazilian Researchers Uncover New Clues About Long COVID Digestive Problems
Scientists from the Federal University of Ceará in Brazil have made a major discovery about how COVID-19 affects the digestive system, particularly the esophagus. Their research shows that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause long-term damage to the esophageal lining, leading to lingering symptoms such as heartburn, acid reflux, and a burning sensation in the chest and throat.
Graphical Abstract - COVID-19 Virus Found to Damage Esophagus Lining and Cause Ongoing Acid Reflux and Heartburn Issues
More Than just a Respiratory Virus
While COVID-19 is best known for damaging the lungs and causing breathing difficulties, it also impacts other parts of the body — including the gastrointestinal tract. Increasingly, doctors are seeing patients with long-term digestive problems after recovering from the virus. This new study focuses on one key issue: how COVID-19 affects the esophagus and why it causes gastroesophageal symptoms in some patients even months after recovery.
Post COVID Symptoms and Esophagus Damage
In this
Medical News report, we cover the Brazilian study that involved 55 hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were monitored for up to six months after they were discharged. Researchers used validated questionnaires to assess symptoms such as heartburn and acid reflux. The results showed that these symptoms increased significantly in post-COVID patients when compared to people who had never been infected.
To better understand why, doctors performed upper endoscopies on 25 of the patients and collected tissue samples from their esophagus. These samples were then analyzed in a lab to evaluate how well the esophageal lining could resist stomach acid and other irritants.
Weakened Esophageal Barrier and Inflammation
The results were alarming. In patients who had recovered from COVID-19, the esophagus showed nearly double the permeability under acidic conditions (pH 2), with readings of 1377.6 ± 316.4 compared to 717.8 ± 168.2 in non-COVID individuals. This means the protective lining of the esophagus was significantly compromised, making it easier for stomach acid to pass through and cause irritation.
Moreover, lab tests revealed increased levels of the inflammatory marker IL-8 and higher expression of Claudin-2, a protein that weakens the tight junctions between cells. Together, these changes lead to an impaired esophageal barrier and a stronger inflammatory response.
Understanding the Link to Long COVID
This new evidence helps explain why some people continue to suffer from gastroesophageal symptoms like acid reflux and chest discomfort long after they have recovered from COVID-19. The virus seems to disrupt the natural defense mechanisms of the esophagus, making it more sensitive to acid and other irritants.
Conclu
sion
The study confirms that COVID-19 can cause lasting structural damage to the esophagus and trigger a long-term inflammatory response. These biological changes make patients more vulnerable to acid reflux and heartburn, even after the virus has been cleared from the body. As long COVID continues to affect millions worldwide, it is crucial for healthcare providers to recognize these symptoms and explore treatments to protect and heal the esophageal lining. Further research may help guide new therapies to support full recovery from post-COVID gastrointestinal issues.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Digestive Diseases and Sciences.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10620-025-09062-3
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/doctors-from-cleveland-clinic-warn-that-while-covid-19-can-cause-gerd-some--covid-19-sequelae-can-mimic-gi-diseases
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/polish-study-finds-that-exposure-to-sars-cov-2-virus-leads-to-long-lasting-dyspeptic-symptoms
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/children-face-long-term-gastrointestinal-issues-after-covid-19-infection
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
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