observational cohort study; general practice; medically unexplained symptoms; long covid; SPECT-CT; translational research; transcriptomic
Abstract :
[en] With an estimated 65 million individuals suffering from Long COVID, validated therapeutic strategies as well as non-invasive biomarkers are direly needed to guide clinical management. We used blood digital transcriptomics in search of viral persistence and Long COVID diagnostic biomarkers in a real-world, general practice-based setting with a long clinical follow-up. We demonstrate systemic SARS-CoV-2 persistence for more than 2 years after acute COVID-19 infection. A 2-gene biomarker, including SARS-CoV-2 antisense RNA, correctly classifies Long COVID with 93.8% sensitivity and 91.7% specificity. Specific immune transcripts and immunometabolism score correlate to systemic viral load and patient-reported anxiety/depression, providing mechanistic links as well as therapeutic targets to tackle Long COVID.
Disciplines :
General & internal medicine Immunology & infectious disease Microbiology
Author, co-author :
MENEZES, Soraya Maria
Jamoulle, Marc ; Université de Liège - ULiège > HEC Liège : UER > UER Opérations : Systèmes d'information de gestion
Carletto, Maria P
Van Holm, Bram
Moens, Leen
Meyts, Isabelle
Maes, Piet
Van Weyenbergh, Johan
Language :
English
Title :
Blood transcriptomics reveal persistent SARS-CoV-2 RNA and candidate biomarkers in Long COVID patients
Alternative titles :
[fr] La transcriptomique sanguine révèle la persistance de l'ARN du SRAS-CoV-2 et des biomarqueurs candidats chez les patients du Long COVID
