We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
COVID-19 and the eye: Systemic and laboratory risk factors for retinopathy and detection of tear film SARS-CoV-2 RNA with a triplex RT-PCR assay.
- Authors
Shantha, Jessica G.; Fashina, Tolulope; Stittleburg, Victoria; Randleman, Casey; Ward, Laura; Regueiro, Matt; Krakow, David; Linderman, Susanne L.; Drews-Botsch, Carolyn; Ahmed, Rafi; Waggoner, Jesse; Yeh, Steven
- Abstract
Purpose: To assess hospitalized COVID-19 inpatients for the prevalence of retinopathy and tear film SARS-CoV-2 RNA, and associated risk factors for their detection. Methods: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients underwent dilated ophthalmic examination and fundus photography. Conjunctival swabs were assessed for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR via a triple target assay. We assessed the relationships of retinopathy with clinical outcomes, systemic risk factors and laboratory data. Results: The median age was 59.5 years and 29 (48%) were female. Retinopathy associated with COVID-19 was observed in 12 of 60 patients (20%). The median age of patients with COVID-19 retinopathy was 51.5 compared to 62.5 years in individuals without retinopathy (p = 0.01). Median BMI was 34.3 in patients with retinopathy versus 30.9 in those without retinopathy (p = 0.04). Fifteen of 60 patients (25%) tested SARS-CoV-2 RNA-positive in their tear film without a relationship with timing of illness and hospitalization. The N2 gene was particularly sensitive with 18 of 19 eyes (94.7%) showing N2-positivity, including 2 patients with alpha variant-positivity (B.1.1.7). Conclusion: Retinopathy was observed in 20% of patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Patients with retinopathy were more likely to be younger and have higher BMI than hospitalized patients without retinopathy. Tear film SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 25% of patients. The relationship of obesity and age with retinopathy requires further investigation.
- Subjects
SARS-CoV-2; SYSTEMIC risk (Finance); REVERSE transcriptase polymerase chain reaction; RNA; COVID-19; HOSPITAL patients
- Publication
PLoS ONE, 2022, Vol 17, Issue 11, p1
- ISSN
1932-6203
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0277301