Neuro-inflammation and Post-infectious Fatigue in Individuals With and Without COVID-19

NCT ID: NCT05371522

Last Updated: 2022-05-12

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: UNKNOWN
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2/PHASE3
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-02-03
• Study Completion Date: 2023-09-30

Brief Summary

Neuroinflammation can be an important regulator of long COVID, specifically fatigue and cognitive complaints. There is evidence that peripheral inflammation and neuro-inflammation are involved in fatigue and cognitive complaints, but precise pathophysiological mechanisms and causal relationship with viral infections are still unknown. The primary aim of this study is to quantify neuroinflammation with [18F]DPA-714 (TSPO-binding) PET scans in post-COVID-19 patients with and without post-infectious fatigue and cognitive complaints and relate it to cognitive, psychiatric and post-infectious fatigue symptoms.

Detailed Description

In this study we will include 20 post-COVID-19 patients (>3 months after diagnosis or discharge from hospital) (50% with post-infectious fatigue and/or cognitive complaints) and 50% without post-infectious fatigue/cognitive complaints; matched for disease severity). We will also include 10 age/sex-matched healthy controls without history of COVID-19 or severe fatigue/cognitive complaints. RS6971 polymorphism of the TSPO receptor will be determined and low affinity binders will be excluded from this study.

The main study parameter is the measurement of in vivo neuroinflammation with a [18F]DPA-714 90 minutes PET scan, alternately capturing brain (60 minutes) and body (30 minutes) with both continuous on-line and manual arterial blood sampling for full quantification ([18F]DPA-714 volume of distribution). The 30-minutes body scan will be performed to examine whole-body inflammation. Brain MRI will be performed for functional and anatomical information. We will use questionnaires and neuropsychological evaluation to assess chronic fatigue, depressive, anxiety and cognitive symptoms, partially for descriptive purposes.

Conditions

COVID-19

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

[18F]DPA-714

All individuals included will undergo a \[18F\]DPA-714 positron emission tomography (PET) scan, irrespective of the existence of post-COVID-19 complaints.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

[18F]DPA-714 positron emission tomography (PET) scan

Intervention Type: RADIATION

60 minute dynamic brain \[18F\]DPA-714 positron emission tomography (PET) scan followed by a 30 minute static whole body positron emission tomography (PET) scan

Interventions

[18F]DPA-714 positron emission tomography (PET) scan

60 minute dynamic brain \[18F\]DPA-714 positron emission tomography (PET) scan followed by a 30 minute static whole body positron emission tomography (PET) scan

Intervention Type: RADIATION

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• The individual was diagnosed with symptomatic COVID-19, confirmed by a positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2, positive SARS-CoV-2 serology or CO-RADS (COVID-19 Reporting and Data System) 4 or 5 on CT-scan, or antigen quicktest, or had typical symptoms and was part of a household in which another person was tested positive by PCR 2 weeks before or after the first day of illness;
• The individual is 3 months after being diagnosed with COVID-19 or after hospital discharge in case the patient was admitted.
• The individual is in the range 40-60 years of age (to ensure radiation safety)
• The individual has sufficient command of the Dutch language
• Genotyping of rs6971 must show that the individual is a mixed or high affinity binder

• The patient experiences severe levels of fatigue (≥ 40) on the fatigue subscale of the Checklist Individual Strength [CIS-fatigue]) and/or cognitive complaints (≥ 15) on the concentration subscale of the Checklist Individual Strength [CIS-concentration].The severe fatigue or cognitive complaints started with or increased substantially directly after the onset of symptoms of COVID-19;
• The patient reports physical/social disability (≤ 65 on the Rand36 physical functioning subscale or a score of ≥ 10 on the Work and Social Adjustment Scale [WSAS];

• The individual experiences no significant levels of fatigue (< 35 on the fatigue subscale of the Checklist Individual Strength [CIS-fatigue]) or cognitive complaints (<15 on the concentration subscale of the Checklist Individual Strength [CIS-concentration]) and does not subjectively major symptoms of fatigue or cognitive complaints. Based upon average of normal population +1SD.
• The individual reports no physical/social disability (> 65 on the Rand36 physical functioning subscale or a score of < 10 on the Work and Social Adjustment Scale [WSAS]

• Should be negatively tested for COVID-19 trough PCR, serology, antibodies, or via antigen quicktest
• No evidence for substantial fatigue or cognitive complaints as evidenced by the CIS subscale fatigue (<35) and CIS subscale concentration (<15) and does not subjectively major symptoms of fatigue or cognitive complaints. Based upon average of normal population +1SD
• The individual is in the range 40-60 years of age (to ensure radiation safety)
• The individual has sufficient command of the Dutch language
• Genotyping of rs6971 must show that the individual is a mixed or high affinity binder

Exclusion Criteria

• Rs6971 shows low affinity binding
• Individuals who are unable to lay still for scanning due to claustrophobia or severe back pain or trypanophobia (fear of needles)
• Gross neurological pathology (strategic or lobar infarcts or stroke or neurotrauma) on MRI or CT that may interfere with the interpretation of the PET scan.
• Have a hemoglobin test (Hb) result of < to 8 in males and < to 7 in females;
• Are females of childbearing potential who are not surgically sterile, not refraining from sexual activity or not using reliable methods of contraception. Females of childbearing potential must not be pregnant (negative serum β-HCG at the time of screening and negative urine β-HCG within 24 hours prior to injection) or breastfeeding at screening.
• Have donated blood within 6 months prior to the [18F]DPA-714 PET scan day;
• The individual has an already known psychiatric or somatic condition that can explain his/her fatigue or major psychiatric disorder other than somatic-symptom disorder (chronic fatigue) as a main diagnosis. We will also screen for the presence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder PTSD as a main diagnosis] (PCL-5) which prevalence may be high in this patient group because of traumatic experiences during the acute phase of COVID-19. We will also screen for the presence of depressive disorder as a main diagnosis. To screen for PTSD and depressive disorder we will use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders version 5 and verbally check if (any) symptoms do not meet the requirements for a PTSS or depression diagnostic/classification;
• Current use of benzodiazepines11brg

• Minimum Eligible Age: 40 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 60 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

ZonMw: The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

B.N.M. van Berckel

Professor of Molecular Brain Imaging

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Bart NM van Berckel, Prof.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC

Locations

VU University Medical Center

Amsterdam, , Netherlands

Countries

Netherlands

Other Identifiers

2021-000781-15

Identifier Type: EUDRACT_NUMBER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2021.0333

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id