Increased Fecal Neopterin Parallels Gastrointestinal Symptoms in COVID-19
Felix Grabherr, Maria Effenberger, Alisa Pedrini, Lisa Mayr, Julian Schwärzler, Simon Reider, Barbara Enrich, Gernot Fritsche, Sophie Wildner, Rosa Bellmann‐Weiler, Günter Weiß, Sabine Scholl‐Bürgi, Thomas Müller, Alexander R. Moschen, Timon E. Adolph, Herbert Tilg
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread from Wuhan, China, and become a worldwide pandemic. Most patients display respiratory symptoms but up to 50% report gastrointestinal symptoms. Neopterin is a surrogate marker for viral inflammation, and its production by macrophages is driven by interferon-γ. METHODS: We measured fecal neopterin in 37 hospitalized COVID-19 patients not requiring intensive care measures and 22 healthy controls. RESULTS: Fecal neopterin was elevated in stool samples from COVID-19 patients compared with that in samples from healthy controls. Especially, patients reporting gastrointestinal symptoms exhibited increased fecal neopterin values. DISCUSSION: COVID-19 is associated with an inflammatory immune response in the gastrointestinal tract.