Neuro-inflammation and Post-infectious Fatigue in Individuals With and Without COVID-19 (COVFATI)

This is an interventional diagnostic trial for COVID-19 focused on measuring long COVID, imaging, (neuro)inflammation Read More

Inclusion Criteria for post-COVID-19 individuals:

• The individual was diagnosed with symptomatic COVID-19, confirmed by a positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2, positive SARS-CoV-2 serology or CO-RADS (COVID-19 Reporting and Data System) 4 or 5 on CT-scan, or antigen quicktest, or had typical symptoms and was part of a household in which another person was tested positive by PCR 2 weeks before or after the first day of illness;
• The individual is 3 months after being diagnosed with COVID-19 or after hospital discharge in case the patient was admitted.
• The individual is in the range 40-60 years of age (to ensure radiation safety)
• The individual has sufficient command of the Dutch language
• Genotyping of rs6971 must show that the individual is a mixed or high affinity binder

Additional Inclusion criteria for patients with post-COVID-19 complaints:

• The patient experiences severe levels of fatigue (≥ 40) on the fatigue subscale of the Checklist Individual Strength [CIS-fatigue]) and/or cognitive complaints (≥ 15) on the concentration subscale of the Checklist Individual Strength [CIS-concentration].The severe fatigue or cognitive complaints started with or increased substantially directly after the onset of symptoms of COVID-19;
• The patient reports physical/social disability (≤ 65 on the Rand36 physical functioning subscale or a score of ≥ 10 on the Work and Social Adjustment Scale [WSAS];

Additional Inclusion criteria for individuals without post-COVID-19 complaints:

• The individual experiences no significant levels of fatigue (< 35 on the fatigue subscale of the Checklist Individual Strength [CIS-fatigue]) or cognitive complaints (<15 on the concentration subscale of the Checklist Individual Strength [CIS-concentration]) and does not subjectively major symptoms of fatigue or cognitive complaints. Based upon average of normal population +1SD.
• The individual reports no physical/social disability (> 65 on the Rand36 physical functioning subscale or a score of < 10 on the Work and Social Adjustment Scale [WSAS]

Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Controls:

• Should be negatively tested for COVID-19 trough PCR, serology, antibodies, or via antigen quicktest
• No evidence for substantial fatigue or cognitive complaints as evidenced by the CIS subscale fatigue (<35) and CIS subscale concentration (<15) and does not subjectively major symptoms of fatigue or cognitive complaints. Based upon average of normal population +1SD
• The individual is in the range 40-60 years of age (to ensure radiation safety)
• The individual has sufficient command of the Dutch language
• Genotyping of rs6971 must show that the individual is a mixed or high affinity binder

Exclusion Criteria:

• Rs6971 shows low affinity binding
• Individuals who are unable to lay still for scanning due to claustrophobia or severe back pain or trypanophobia (fear of needles)
• Gross neurological pathology (strategic or lobar infarcts or stroke or neurotrauma) on MRI or CT that may interfere with the interpretation of the PET scan.
• Have a hemoglobin test (Hb) result of < to 8 in males and < to 7 in females;
• Are females of childbearing potential who are not surgically sterile, not refraining from sexual activity or not using reliable methods of contraception. Females of childbearing potential must not be pregnant (negative serum β-HCG at the time of screening and negative urine β-HCG within 24 hours prior to injection) or breastfeeding at screening.
• Have donated blood within 6 months prior to the [18F]DPA-714 PET scan day;
• The individual has an already known psychiatric or somatic condition that can explain his/her fatigue or major psychiatric disorder other than somatic-symptom disorder (chronic fatigue) as a main diagnosis. We will also screen for the presence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD as a main diagnosis] (PCL-5) which prevalence may be high in this patient group because of traumatic experiences during the acute phase of COVID-19. We will also screen for the presence of depressive disorder as a main diagnosis. To screen for PTSD and depressive disorder we will use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders version 5 and verbally check if (any) symptoms do not meet the requirements for a PTSS or depression diagnostic/classification;
• Current use of benzodiazepines11brg