Elevation of neural injury markers in patients with neurologic sequelae after hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 infection
Michail Spanos, Sigal Shachar, Thadryan Sweeney, H. Immo Lehmann, Priyanka Gokulnath, Guoping Li, George B. Sigal, Rajini Nagaraj, Pradeepthi Bathala, Farhan Rana, Ravi V. Shah, David A. Routenberg, Saumya Das
Abstract
Patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) risk developing long-term neurologic symptoms after infection. Here, we identify biomarkers associated with neurologic sequelae one year after hospitalization for SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were followed using post-SARS-CoV-2 online questionnaires and virtual visits. Hospitalized adults from the pre-SARS-CoV-2 era served as historical controls. 40% of hospitalized patients develop neurological sequelae in the year after recovery from acute COVID-19 infection. Age, disease severity, and COVID-19 infection itself was associated with additional risk for neurological sequelae in our cohorts. Glial fibrillary astrocytic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NF-L) were significantly elevated in SARS-CoV-2 infection. After adjusting for age, sex, and disease severity, GFAP and NF-L remained significantly associated with longer term neurological symptoms in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. GFAP and NF-L warrant exploration as biomarkers for long-term neurologic complications after SARS-CoV-2 infection.