Background: Recent studies showed that plasma SARS-CoV-2 RNA seems to be associated with worse COVID-19 outcome. However, whether specific population can be at higher risk of viremia are to date unexplored. Methods: This cross-sectional proof-of-concept study included 41 SARS-CoV-2-positive adult individuals (six affected by haematological malignancies) hospitalized at two major hospital in Milan, for those demographic, clinical and laboratory data were available. SARS-CoV-2 load was quantified by ddPCR in paired plasma and respiratory samples. To assess significant differences between patients with and patients without viremia, Fisher exact test and Wilcoxon test were used for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Results: Plasma SARS-CoV-2 RNA was found in 8 patients (19.5%), with a median (IQR) value of 694 (209–1023) copies/mL. Viremic patients were characterized by an higher mortality rate (50.0% vs 9.1%; p = 0.018) respect to patients without viremia. Viremic patients were more frequently affected by haematological malignancies (62.5% vs. 3.0%; p < 0.001), and had higher viral load in respiratory samples (9,404,000 [586,060-10,000,000] vs 1560 [312–25,160] copies/mL; p = 0.002). Conclusions: Even if based on a small sample population, this proof-of-concept study poses the basis for an early identification of patients at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 viremia, and therefore likely to develop severe COVID-19, and supports the need of a quantitative viral load determination in blood and respiratory samples of haematologic patients with COVID-19 in order to predict prognosis and consequently to help their further management.

SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma samples of COVID-19 affected individuals: a cross-sectional proof-of-concept study / L. Colagrossi, M. Antonello, S. Renica, M. Merli, E. Matarazzo, G. Travi, M. Vecchi, J. Colombo, A. Muscatello, G. Grasselli, S.N. Molteni, V. Scaravilli, E. Cattaneo, D. Fanti, C. Vismara, A. Bandera, A. Gori, M. Puoti, V. Cento, C. Alteri, C.F. Perno. - In: BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES. - ISSN 1471-2334. - 21:1(2021), pp. 184.1-184.6. [10.1186/s12879-021-05886-2]

SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma samples of COVID-19 affected individuals: a cross-sectional proof-of-concept study

L. Colagrossi
Primo
;
M. Antonello
Secondo
;
S. Renica;E. Matarazzo;M. Vecchi;G. Grasselli;V. Scaravilli;E. Cattaneo;A. Bandera;A. Gori;V. Cento;C. Alteri
Penultimo
;
C.F. Perno
Ultimo
2021

Abstract

Background: Recent studies showed that plasma SARS-CoV-2 RNA seems to be associated with worse COVID-19 outcome. However, whether specific population can be at higher risk of viremia are to date unexplored. Methods: This cross-sectional proof-of-concept study included 41 SARS-CoV-2-positive adult individuals (six affected by haematological malignancies) hospitalized at two major hospital in Milan, for those demographic, clinical and laboratory data were available. SARS-CoV-2 load was quantified by ddPCR in paired plasma and respiratory samples. To assess significant differences between patients with and patients without viremia, Fisher exact test and Wilcoxon test were used for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Results: Plasma SARS-CoV-2 RNA was found in 8 patients (19.5%), with a median (IQR) value of 694 (209–1023) copies/mL. Viremic patients were characterized by an higher mortality rate (50.0% vs 9.1%; p = 0.018) respect to patients without viremia. Viremic patients were more frequently affected by haematological malignancies (62.5% vs. 3.0%; p < 0.001), and had higher viral load in respiratory samples (9,404,000 [586,060-10,000,000] vs 1560 [312–25,160] copies/mL; p = 0.002). Conclusions: Even if based on a small sample population, this proof-of-concept study poses the basis for an early identification of patients at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 viremia, and therefore likely to develop severe COVID-19, and supports the need of a quantitative viral load determination in blood and respiratory samples of haematologic patients with COVID-19 in order to predict prognosis and consequently to help their further management.
COVID-19; ddPCR; Hematological malignancies; Molecular diagnosis; SARS-CoV-2; Viremia; Adult; Aged; COVID-19; COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Prognosis; Proof of Concept Study; RNA, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; Serologic Tests; Viral Load; Viremia
Settore MED/07 - Microbiologia e Microbiologia Clinica
2021
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/823531
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