Systematic Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Neurotropic Capacity in Modestly and Critically Ill Patients, and Patients Who Died From COVID-19

November 15, 2022 updated by: University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
This study is to analyze the microglia reaction or direct neurotropic effects of CNS COVID-19 in pathogenesis and brain stem dysfunction in critically ill patients. A microglia-focused, brain-specific 50+ marker CODEX panel is used to assess the neuroinflammatory microenvironment in specific brain regions of deceased COVID-19 patients. The peripheral (cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood) cytokine response to SARS-CoV-2 is investigated in regard to CNS affection and consecutive blood brain barrier disruption leading to braininherent neuroinflammatory reactions

Study Overview

Detailed Description

This study is to analyze the microglia reaction or direct neurotropic effects of CNS COVID-19 in pathogenesis and brain stem dysfunction in critically ill patients. A microglia-focused, brain-specific 50+ marker CODEX panel is used to assess the neuroinflammatory microenvironment in specific brain regions of deceased COVID-19 patients. The peripheral (cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood) cytokine response to SARS-CoV-2 is investigated in regard to CNS affection and consecutive blood brain barrier disruption leading to braininherent neuroinflammatory reactions. Primary endpoints of this project are the multidimensional integration of the analysis from the procedures described above and assessment of the correlation between the gained clinical data (MRI, mental/neurological state), the body fluid proteomic and mass-cytometric analysis (CSF and Plasma proteomics, peripheral blood mass cytometry) and the CODEX analysis of defined brain regions on autopsy specimens.

Non-critically ill COVID-19 patients and critically ill COVID-19 patients needing mechanical ventilation at the ICU are included. Autopsy specimens from medulla oblongata, cortex, cerebellum and olfactory bulb are investigated, including only tissue samples, which have been submitted to the Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

40

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Basel, Switzerland, 4031
        • Neurosurgery, University Hospital Basel

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

20 non-critically ill COVID-19 patients from the inpatient ward, and 20 critically ill COVID-19 patients needing mechanical ventilation at the ICU. Recruitment takes places at University Hospital of Basel and the Kantonsspital Baselland Liestal.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • COVID-19 positive tested

Exclusion Criteria:

  • COVID-19 negative tested
  • pregnant women

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
MRI imaging data
Time Frame: Project duration for each patient takes 1 hour for the MRI at baseline
Comparison of lesions from patients that are neurologically affected to non-affected individuals in terms of CNS involvement to describe encephalitic changes due to COVID-19 infection.
Project duration for each patient takes 1 hour for the MRI at baseline
Proteomic analysis
Time Frame: 10 minutes for blood draw at baseline
Description of proteomic biomarkers (CSF and Plasma) in comparison with control reference sample.
10 minutes for blood draw at baseline
Peripheral blood leukocyte Cytof Mass Cytometry Analysis for cell population frequency
Time Frame: 10 minutes for blood draw at baseline
Mass cytometry will be performed form peripheral blood mononuclear cells to count cell population frequency.
10 minutes for blood draw at baseline
CODEX (high dimensional microscopy) workflow analysis of defined regions on brain autopsy specimens
Time Frame: at baseline
In situ distribution assessment of marker expression (CD147 protein, ACE2 protein, Transmembrane protease serine subtype 2 (TMPRSS2))
at baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Gregor Hutter, Prof. Dr. med., Neurosurgery, University Hospital Basel

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 12, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

November 9, 2022

Study Completion (Actual)

November 9, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 14, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 14, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

July 15, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

November 18, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 15, 2022

Last Verified

November 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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