Presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in COVID-19 survivors with post-COVID symptoms: a systematic review of the literature.
Clin Chem Lab Med
; 62(6): 1044-1052, 2024 May 27.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38366966
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Viral persistence is one of the main hypotheses explaining the presence of post-COVID symptoms. This systematic review investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma, stool, urine, and nasal/oral swab samples in individuals with post-COVID symptomatology. CONTENT MEDLINE, CINAHL, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science databases, as well as medRxiv/bioRxiv preprint servers were searched up to November 25th, 2023. Articles investigating the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma, stool, urine or nasal/oral swab samples in patients with post-COVID symptoms were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale or Cochrane's Risk of Bias (Rob) tool.SUMMARY:
From 322 studies identified, six studies met all inclusion criteria. The sample included 678 COVID-19 survivors (52â¯% female, aged from 29 to 66 years). The methodological quality was moderate in 88â¯% of the studies (n=5/6). Three papers investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma, three studies in nasal/oral swabs, two studies in stool samples, one in urine and one in saliva. The follow-up was shorter than two months (<60 days after) in 66â¯% of the studies (n=4/6). The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA ranged from 5 to 59â¯% in patients with post-COVID symptoms the first two months after infection, depending on the sample tested, however, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was also identified in COVID-19 survivors without post-COVID symptoms (one study). OUTLOOK Available evidence can suggest the presence of persistent SARS-CoV-2 RNA in post-COVID patients in the short term, although the biases within the studies do not permit us to make firm assumptions. The association between post-COVID symptoms and SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the samples tested is also conflicting. The lack of comparative group without post-COVID symptoms limits the generalizability of viral persistence in post-COVID-19 condition.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
RNA Viral
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SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
Limite:
Female
/
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Clin Chem Lab Med
Assunto da revista:
QUIMICA CLINICA
/
TECNICAS E PROCEDIMENTOS DE LABORATORIO
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Espanha
País de publicação:
Alemanha