Temporal Kinetics of RNAemia and Associated Systemic Cytokines in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
Debby van Riel, Carmen W.E. Embregts, Gregorius J. Sips, Johannes P. C. van den Akker, Henrik Endeman, Els van Nood, Mathijs Raadsen, Lisa Bauer, Jeroen J. A. van Kampen, Richard Molenkamp, Marion Koopmans, David van de Vijver, Corine H. GeurtsvanKessel
Abstract
Severe COVID-19 can be considered a systemic disease as many extrarespiratory complications occur. However, the systemic pathogenesis is poorly understood. Here, we show that the presence of viral RNA in the blood (RNAemia) occurs more frequently in patients who develop critical disease, compared to patients with moderate or severe disease. In addition, RNAemia is associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, like MCP-1 and IL-10, in serum during the course of disease. This suggests that extrarespiratory spread of SARS-CoV-2 contributes to systemic inflammatory responses, which are an important factor in the systemic pathogenesis of COVID-19.