Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 RNA in Plasma Is Associated With Intensive Care Unit Admission and Mortality in Patients Hospitalized With Coronavirus Disease 2019

Christian Prebensen; Peder L Myhre; Christine Jonassen; Anbjørg Rangberg; Anita Blomfeldt; My Svensson; Torbjørn Omland; Jan-Erik Berdal

doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa1338

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 RNA in Plasma Is Associated With Intensive Care Unit Admission and Mortality in Patients Hospitalized With Coronavirus Disease 2019

Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Aug 2;73(3):e799-e802. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1338.

Authors

Christian Prebensen^{1

2}, Peder L Myhre^{2

3}, Christine Jonassen⁴, Anbjørg Rangberg⁴, Anita Blomfeldt⁵, My Svensson⁶, Torbjørn Omland^{2

3}, Jan-Erik Berdal^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, Division of Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.
² Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
³ Department of Cardiology, Division of Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.
⁴ Center for Laboratory Medicine, Østfold Hospital Trust, Grålum, Norway.
⁵ Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Division for Diagnostics and Technology, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.
⁶ Department of Research, Division of Medicine, Akershus University Hospital, Lørenskog, Norway.

Abstract

The clinical significance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA in the circulation is unknown. In this prospective cohort study, we detected viral RNA in the plasma of 58 of 123 (47%) patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019. RNA was detected more frequently, and levels were higher, in patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit and/or died.

Keywords: COVID-19; RNAemia; SARS-CoV-2; antibodies; viral load.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Comment

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Hospitalization
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Prospective Studies
RNA, Viral / genetics
SARS-CoV-2*

Substances

RNA, Viral