Legs Turn Blue After Standing for 10 Minutes... "Post-COVID-19 Sequelae" Raised

Symptoms of Peripheral Cyanosis Observed with Leg Swelling
Skin Discoloration Occurs After 10 Minutes Standing
"Awareness of Autonomic Nervous System Disorders Must Increase"

It has been claimed that long-term aftereffects of COVID-19 (Long COVID) can cause swelling of the leg blood vessels. Patients experiencing this aftereffect were found to have legs that turn blue and swell when standing.

According to the UK’s Sky News and others on the 12th (local time), Dr. Mano Sivan of the University of Leeds revealed on the 11th that he discovered a 33-year-old male patient complaining of such symptoms in the medical journal The Lancet.

The patient’s leg blood vessels swell after standing for a certain period, and the legs begin to turn blue. This symptom is called acrocyanosis.

Peripheral cyanosis suspected to be a long-term sequela of COVID-19
[Image source=University of Leeds, UK]

According to the article submitted to The Lancet, the patient’s legs gradually swell one minute after standing. As time passes, the legs start to take on a blue hue. After 10 minutes, the swelling and blue discoloration become clearly visible to the naked eye. This symptom disappeared about two minutes after the patient sat down.

The patient claims that the acrocyanosis symptoms began after COVID-19 infection. The patient was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) during the treatment process following coronavirus infection. In other words, this means that the heart rate abnormally increases while standing, causing these symptoms.

Regarding this, Dr. Sivan said, “It is a very surprising case that acrocyanosis appeared as a post-COVID-19 aftereffect,” and emphasized, “Awareness of autonomic nervous system disorders among Long COVID patients needs to be raised to properly respond to patients.”

He also told the media, “Patients experiencing these symptoms may not realize that their symptoms could be Long COVID and may worry about their symptoms. Similarly, clinicians may not recognize the connection between acrocyanosis and Long COVID.”

Meanwhile, according to Sky, since research on long-term aftereffects of COVID-19 began, various symptoms have been observed. Among them, symptoms related to the autonomic nervous system, which controls blood pressure and heart rate, have also been identified. Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system can affect concentration necessary for daily life, such as causing chronic fatigue.