Cerebrospinal fluid findings in patients with neurological manifestations in post-COVID-19 syndrome

Abstract

Background: Information on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings in patients with neurological manifestations in post-COVID-19 syndrome is scarce. Methods: Retrospective evaluation of 84 CSF samples in patients fulfilling post-COVID-19 criteria in two neurological post-COVID-19 outpatient clinics. Results: In 68% of samples, all CSF parameters were normal. The most frequent pathological CSF finding was elevation of total protein (median total protein 33.3 mg/dl [total range 18.5–116.2]) in 20 of 83 (24%) samples. The second most prevalent pathological finding was a blood–CSF barrier dysfunction as measured by elevation of QAlb (median QAlb 4.65 [2.4–13.2]) in 11/84 (13%). Pleocytosis was found in only 5/84 (6%) samples and was mild in all of them. CSF-restricted oligoclonal bands were found in 5/83 (6%) samples. Anti-neuronal autoantibodies in CSF were negative in most cases, whilst 12/68 (18%) samples were positive for anti-myelin autoantibodies in serum. PCR for herpesviridae (HSV-1/-2, VZV, EBV, CMV, HHV6) showed, if at all, only weakly positive results in CSF or EDTA whole blood/plasma. Conclusions: The majority of samples did not show any pathologies. The most frequent findings were elevation of total protein and blood–CSF barrier dysfunction with no signs of intrathecal inflammation. CSF analysis still keeps its value for exclusion of differential diagnoses.