cfDNA as a surrogate marker for COVID-19 severity in patients with influenza-like symptoms with and without SARS-CoV-2 infections in general practice: a study protocol for a prospective cohort study

Introduction The clinical course of patients with a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection varies widely, from symptom-free to severe courses that can lead to death. Laboratory values of SARS-CoV-2 patients such as lymphocyte counts or C-reactive protein (CRP) do not allow a prediction of the actual course...

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Main Authors: Dorothea Dehnen, Elmo Neuberger, Jürgen in der Schmitten, Ekaterini Giagkou, Perikles Simon, Suzan Botzenhardt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2022-06-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/6/e058647.full
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author Dorothea Dehnen
Elmo Neuberger
Jürgen in der Schmitten
Ekaterini Giagkou
Perikles Simon
Suzan Botzenhardt
author_facet Dorothea Dehnen
Elmo Neuberger
Jürgen in der Schmitten
Ekaterini Giagkou
Perikles Simon
Suzan Botzenhardt
author_sort Dorothea Dehnen
collection DOAJ
description Introduction The clinical course of patients with a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection varies widely, from symptom-free to severe courses that can lead to death. Laboratory values of SARS-CoV-2 patients such as lymphocyte counts or C-reactive protein (CRP) do not allow a prediction of the actual course of the disease. To identify a possible predictive marker for the differentiation and prognosis of illness with influenza-like symptoms with and without SARS-CoV-2 infections in general practice, we will analyse the concentrations of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels, laboratory and clinical parameters, temperature, oxygen saturation, breathing rate and concomitant symptoms in patients with flu-like symptoms with and without a SARS-CoV-2 infection.Methods and analysis This is a single-centre, two-arm, parallel longitudinal cohort study with a total of 44 patients. 22 patients with flu-like symptoms without a SARS-CoV-2 infection and 22 patients with flu-like symptoms with a SARS-CoV-2 infection will be recruited. The primary objective is to compare cfDNA levels in ambulatory patients in general practice with flu-like symptoms with SARS-CoV-2 infection with those with influenza like symptoms without a SARS-CoV-2 infection during the disease (day 7 and day 14). The secondary objective is to determine whether there is a correlation between cfDNA concentrations on the one hand, and laboratory and clinical parameters on the other hand. cfDNA, differential blood count, high-sensitive CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate will be measured in blood samples, concomitant symptoms will be surveyed via a self-assessment questionnaire, and oxygen saturation, breathing rate and examination of the lungs will be reported by treating physicians.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was issued on 1 March 2021 by the Ethics Committee Essen under the number 21-9916-BO. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed open-access journals and presented at national and international conferences.Trial registration number DRKS00024722.
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spelling doaj-art-9a9e199d600c4f57ba09a9932deda8da2025-01-28T06:15:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552022-06-0112610.1136/bmjopen-2021-058647cfDNA as a surrogate marker for COVID-19 severity in patients with influenza-like symptoms with and without SARS-CoV-2 infections in general practice: a study protocol for a prospective cohort studyDorothea Dehnen0Elmo Neuberger1Jürgen in der Schmitten2Ekaterini Giagkou3Perikles Simon4Suzan Botzenhardt5Institute of General Practice, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, GermanyDept. of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, GermanyUniversity of Duisburg-Essen Faculty of Medicine, Essen, GermanyInstitute of General Practice, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen Faculty of Medicine, Essen, GermanyDepartment of Sports Medicine, Rehabilitation and Disease Prevention, Johannes Gutenberg Universitat Mainz, Mainz, GermanyWest German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, GermanyIntroduction The clinical course of patients with a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection varies widely, from symptom-free to severe courses that can lead to death. Laboratory values of SARS-CoV-2 patients such as lymphocyte counts or C-reactive protein (CRP) do not allow a prediction of the actual course of the disease. To identify a possible predictive marker for the differentiation and prognosis of illness with influenza-like symptoms with and without SARS-CoV-2 infections in general practice, we will analyse the concentrations of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels, laboratory and clinical parameters, temperature, oxygen saturation, breathing rate and concomitant symptoms in patients with flu-like symptoms with and without a SARS-CoV-2 infection.Methods and analysis This is a single-centre, two-arm, parallel longitudinal cohort study with a total of 44 patients. 22 patients with flu-like symptoms without a SARS-CoV-2 infection and 22 patients with flu-like symptoms with a SARS-CoV-2 infection will be recruited. The primary objective is to compare cfDNA levels in ambulatory patients in general practice with flu-like symptoms with SARS-CoV-2 infection with those with influenza like symptoms without a SARS-CoV-2 infection during the disease (day 7 and day 14). The secondary objective is to determine whether there is a correlation between cfDNA concentrations on the one hand, and laboratory and clinical parameters on the other hand. cfDNA, differential blood count, high-sensitive CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate will be measured in blood samples, concomitant symptoms will be surveyed via a self-assessment questionnaire, and oxygen saturation, breathing rate and examination of the lungs will be reported by treating physicians.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was issued on 1 March 2021 by the Ethics Committee Essen under the number 21-9916-BO. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed open-access journals and presented at national and international conferences.Trial registration number DRKS00024722.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/6/e058647.full
spellingShingle Dorothea Dehnen
Elmo Neuberger
Jürgen in der Schmitten
Ekaterini Giagkou
Perikles Simon
Suzan Botzenhardt
cfDNA as a surrogate marker for COVID-19 severity in patients with influenza-like symptoms with and without SARS-CoV-2 infections in general practice: a study protocol for a prospective cohort study
BMJ Open
title cfDNA as a surrogate marker for COVID-19 severity in patients with influenza-like symptoms with and without SARS-CoV-2 infections in general practice: a study protocol for a prospective cohort study
title_full cfDNA as a surrogate marker for COVID-19 severity in patients with influenza-like symptoms with and without SARS-CoV-2 infections in general practice: a study protocol for a prospective cohort study
title_fullStr cfDNA as a surrogate marker for COVID-19 severity in patients with influenza-like symptoms with and without SARS-CoV-2 infections in general practice: a study protocol for a prospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed cfDNA as a surrogate marker for COVID-19 severity in patients with influenza-like symptoms with and without SARS-CoV-2 infections in general practice: a study protocol for a prospective cohort study
title_short cfDNA as a surrogate marker for COVID-19 severity in patients with influenza-like symptoms with and without SARS-CoV-2 infections in general practice: a study protocol for a prospective cohort study
title_sort cfdna as a surrogate marker for covid 19 severity in patients with influenza like symptoms with and without sars cov 2 infections in general practice a study protocol for a prospective cohort study
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/6/e058647.full
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