Serum and cerebrospinal fluid biomarker profiles in acute SARS-CoV-2-associated neurological syndromes.
Title | Serum and cerebrospinal fluid biomarker profiles in acute SARS-CoV-2-associated neurological syndromes. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2021 |
Authors | Paterson RW, Benjamin LA, Mehta PR, Brown RL, Athauda D, Ashton NJ, Leckey CA, Ziff OJ, Heaney J, Heslegrave AJ, Benedet AL, Blennow K, Checkley AM, Houlihan CF, Mummery CJ, Lunn MP, Manji H, Zandi MS, Keddie S, Chou M, Changaradil DVinayan, Solomon T, Keshavan A, Barker S, Jäger HRolf, Carletti F, Simister R, Werring DJ, Spyer MJ, Nastouli E, Gauthier S, Rosa-Neto P, Zetterberg H, Schott JM |
Corporate Authors | UCLH Queen Square COVID-19 Biomarker Study Group |
Journal | Brain Commun |
Volume | 3 |
Issue | 3 |
Pagination | fcab099 |
Date Published | 2021 |
ISSN | 2632-1297 |
Abstract | Preliminary pathological and biomarker data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection can damage the nervous system. To understand what, where and how damage occurs, we collected serum and CSF from patients with COVID-19 and characterized neurological syndromes involving the PNS and CNS ( = 34). We measured biomarkers of neuronal damage and neuroinflammation, and compared these with non-neurological control groups, which included patients with ( = 94) and without ( = 24) COVID-19. We detected increased concentrations of neurofilament light, a dynamic biomarker of neuronal damage, in the CSF of those with CNS inflammation (encephalitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis) [14 800 pg/ml (400, 32 400)], compared to those with encephalopathy [1410 pg/ml (756, 1446)], peripheral syndromes (Guillain-Barré syndrome) [740 pg/ml (507, 881)] and controls [872 pg/ml (654, 1200)]. Serum neurofilament light levels were elevated across patients hospitalized with COVID-19, irrespective of neurological manifestations. There was not the usual close correlation between CSF and serum neurofilament light, suggesting serum neurofilament light elevation in the non-neurological patients may reflect peripheral nerve damage in response to severe illness. We did not find significantly elevated levels of serum neurofilament light in community cases of COVID-19 arguing against significant neurological damage. Glial fibrillary acidic protein, a marker of astrocytic activation, was not elevated in the CSF or serum of any group, suggesting astrocytic activation is not a major mediator of neuronal damage in COVID-19. |
DOI | 10.1093/braincomms/fcab099 |
Alternate Journal | Brain Commun |
PubMed ID | 34396099 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC8194666 |
Grant List | / WT_ / Wellcome Trust / United Kingdom |