cfDNA as a surrogate marker for COVID-19 severity in patients with influenza-like symptoms with and without SARS-CoV-2 infections in general practice: a study protocol for a prospective cohort study.
BMJ Open
; 12(6): e058647, 2022 06 16.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1902005
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The clinical course of patients with a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection varies widely, from symptom-free to severe courses that can lead to death. Laboratory values of SARS-CoV-2 patients such as lymphocyte counts or C-reactive protein (CRP) do not allow a prediction of the actual course of the disease. To identify a possible predictive marker for the differentiation and prognosis of illness with influenza-like symptoms with and without SARS-CoV-2 infections in general practice, we will analyse the concentrations of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels, laboratory and clinical parameters, temperature, oxygen saturation, breathing rate and concomitant symptoms in patients with flu-like symptoms with and without a SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS ANDANALYSIS:
This is a single-centre, two-arm, parallel longitudinal cohort study with a total of 44 patients. 22 patients with flu-like symptoms without a SARS-CoV-2 infection and 22 patients with flu-like symptoms with a SARS-CoV-2 infection will be recruited. The primary objective is to compare cfDNA levels in ambulatory patients in general practice with flu-like symptoms with SARS-CoV-2 infection with those with influenza like symptoms without a SARS-CoV-2 infection during the disease (day 7 and day 14). The secondary objective is to determine whether there is a correlation between cfDNA concentrations on the one hand, and laboratory and clinical parameters on the other hand. cfDNA, differential blood count, high-sensitive CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate will be measured in blood samples, concomitant symptoms will be surveyed via a self-assessment questionnaire, and oxygen saturation, breathing rate and examination of the lungs will be reported by treating physicians. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethical approval was issued on 1 March 2021 by the Ethics Committee Essen under the number 21-9916-BO. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed open-access journals and presented at national and international conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER DRKS00024722.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Influenza, Human
/
General Practice
/
Cell-Free Nucleic Acids
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
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Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
BMJ Open
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Bmjopen-2021-058647
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