학술논문

Viral RNA load in plasma is associated with critical illness and a dysregulated host response in COVID-19
Document Type
article
Source
Critical Care, Vol 24, Iss 1, Pp 1-13 (2020)
Subject
SARS-CoV-2
Cytokine
Sepsis
COVID-19
Plasma
Rnaemia
Medical emergencies. Critical care. Intensive care. First aid
RC86-88.9
Language
English
ISSN
1364-8535
Abstract
Abstract Background COVID-19 can course with respiratory and extrapulmonary disease. SARS-CoV-2 RNA is detected in respiratory samples but also in blood, stool and urine. Severe COVID-19 is characterized by a dysregulated host response to this virus. We studied whether viral RNAemia or viral RNA load in plasma is associated with severe COVID-19 and also to this dysregulated response. Methods A total of 250 patients with COVID-19 were recruited (50 outpatients, 100 hospitalized ward patients and 100 critically ill). Viral RNA detection and quantification in plasma was performed using droplet digital PCR, targeting the N1 and N2 regions of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein gene. The association between SARS-CoV-2 RNAemia and viral RNA load in plasma with severity was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression. Correlations between viral RNA load and biomarkers evidencing dysregulation of host response were evaluated by calculating the Spearman correlation coefficients. Results The frequency of viral RNAemia was higher in the critically ill patients (78%) compared to ward patients (27%) and outpatients (2%) (p