Vascular phenotyping in post-COVID children and adolescents-the lico study

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: An infection with SARS-CoV-2 is associated with systemic inflammation, that also affects the endothelium. This may result in endothelitis, which can influence vascular regulation and morphology. Until now, the specific mechanism of vessel damage after a SARS-CoV-2 infection is still unclear, especially in children and adolescents. The LICO Study (Long term impact of COVID-19) aims to investigate the long-term effects of a SARS-CoV-2 infection on vascular structure and function in chil-dren and adolescents. Method(s) Children and adolescents with confirmed evidence of survived SARS-CoV-2 infection are screened 6 +/- 3 months post-infection. Vascular function is assessed by flow-mediated vas-odilation (FMD) and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV). Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and retinal diagnostics (arteriove-nous ratio-AVR) are used to examine vascular structure. The matched control group without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection undergoes the same examination procedure. Result(s) So far, we have been able to evaluate 24 (9 post-covid) subjects (13.5 +/- 1.9 years;9 girls). Compared to the mean refer-ence values of the control group, 5 post-covid subjects have higher cIMT (0.49 +/- 0.01 mm vs. reference value 0.46 +/- 0.03 mm). Of these, 3 post-covid subjects even deviate from the norm PWV (4.96 +/- 0.16 m/sec vs. reference value 4.63 +/- 0.29 m/sec). The same 3 post-covid subjects are also below the norm FMD (2.06 +/- 1.05 % vs. reference value 4.18 +/- 7.04 %). None of the post-covid subjects deviates from the norm AVR values (refer-ence value 0.85 +/- 0.07). Conclusion(s) It is shown that infection with SARS-CoV-2 has the potential to impair vascular regulation. These initial results provide trends for early vascular changes among children and adolescents after recovered SARS-CoV-2 infection. Due to that this is an ongoing study, the results are constantly being expanded and may still change. To determine lasting changes in morphology, the examination is repeated after 6 months and the further results of this longitudinal study must be awaited.