Journal Article

Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) values in a large cross-sectional population of children with asymptomatic to moderate COVID-19

Borchers Natascha, Tretter German, Brandstetter, Susanne, Antos, David, Bauer, Alena, Laub Marinus, Schöberl, Patricia, Geis, Tobias, von, Arnim Victor, Harner, Susanne, Mair, Georg, Ambrosch, Andreas, Jork-Kaeferlein Birgit, Löw Hannes, Rasp Karin, Klein, Annegret, Reitz Michaela, Schoetzau Nina, Sperlich, Michael, Wellmann Sven, Habash, Sonja, Schirmer, Hubert, Buntrock-Döpke Heike, Santos-Valente, Elisangela, Rehe Christine, Koering Cosima, Soehngen Claudia, Szulagyi-Kovacs Annamaria, Einhauser Sebastian, Meinel Bettina, Steidle Guenter, Scheffel Matthias, Strobelt, Michael, Kabesch, Michael, Senjor Marko, Puchner Georg, Stephan, von Koskull, Ewald Dominik, Habash, Thomas, Becker, Christian, Schmid, Roland, Wruk Michaela, Razeghi, Stefan, Peterhoff, David, Castrop Mona, Toncheva Antoaneta A, Pawlak, Johannes, Laub, Sarah, Rehe Klaus, Gerling, Stephan, Landvogt Niclas, Heuschmann Daniela, Eichhorn Renate, Ludwig, Kaesbauer, Volz-Fleckenstein, Marlene, Corbacioglu Monika, Laub, Otto, Leipold Georg, Kasser Severin, Blueml Andreas, Grombach Jens, Niggel Jakob, Birkinger Georg, Jost, Dieckerhoff, Schweiger-Kabesc

2021

Overview

BackgroundSerum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) is an established biomarker of neuro-axonal damage in multiple neurological disorders. Raised sNfL levels have been reported in adults infected with pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Levels in children infected with COVID-19 have not as yet been reported.ObjectiveTo evaluate whether sNfL is elevated in children contracting COVID-19.MethodsBetween May 22 and July 22, 2020, a network of outpatient pediatricians in Bavaria, Germany, the Coronavirus antibody screening in children from Bavaria study network (CoKiBa), recruited healthy children into a cross-sectional study from two sources: an ongoing prevention program for 1–14 years, and referrals of 1–17 years consulting a pediatrician for possible infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We determined sNfL levels by single molecule array immunoassay and SARS-CoV-2 antibody status by two independent quantitative methods.ResultsOf the 2652 included children, 148 (5.6%) were SARS-CoV-2 antibody positive with asymptomatic to moderate COVID-19 infection. Neurological symptoms—headache, dizziness, muscle aches, or loss of smell and taste—were present in 47/148 cases (31.8%). Mean sNfL levels were 5.5 pg/ml (SD 2.9) in the total cohort, 5.1 (SD 2.1) pg/ml in the children with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, and 5.5 (SD 3.0) pg/ml in those without. Multivariate regression analysis revealed age—but neither antibody status, antibody levels, nor clinical severity—as an independent predictor of sNfL. Follow-up of children with pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome (n = 14) showed no association with sNfL.ConclusionsIn this population study, children with asymptomatic to moderate COVID-19 showed no neurochemical evidence of neuronal damage.

• Publisher: Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Antibodies / Asymptomatic / Children / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / Inflammation / Neurological diseases / Neurology / Olfaction / Pandemics / Pediatrics / Population studies / Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2