Persistent cognitive impairment associated with cerebrospinal fluid anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies six months after mild COVID-19

• Published in: Neurological research and practice Vol. 3; no. 1; pp. 34 - 3
• Main Authors: Borsche, Max, Reichel, Dirk, Fellbrich, Anja, Lixenfeld, Anne S., Rahmöller, Johann, Vollstedt, Eva-Juliane, Föh, Bandik, Balck, Alexander, Klein, Christine, Ehlers, Marc, Moser, Andreas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer Nature B.V 21.06.2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Antibodies; Central nervous system; Cerebrospinal fluid; Cognitive ability; Cognitive impairment; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; CSF antibodies; Letter to the Editor; Measuring techniques; Neurologic sequelae; Neurological complications; Pandemics; Psychology; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
• ISSN: 2524-3489; 2524-3489
• DOI: 10.1186/s42466-021-00135-y

Neurological long-term sequelae are increasingly considered an important challenge in the recent COVID-19 pandemic. However, most evidence for neurological symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection and central nervous system invasion of the virus stems from individuals severely affected in the acute phase of the disease. Here, we report long-lasting cognitive impairment along with persistent cerebrospinal fluid anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a female patient with unremarkable standard examination 6 months after mild COVID-19, supporting the implementation of neuropsychological testing and specific cerebrospinal fluid investigation also in patients with a relatively mild acute disease phase.