Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in COVID-۱۹ Patients and its Associationwith the COVID-۱۹ Manifestations

Introduction: COVID-۱۹ is a systematic disease that frequently implies neurological and non-neurologicalmanifestations, predominantly by inducing hypoxia. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key factorin regulating functions of nervous and respiratory systems and has been strongly related to hypoxia. Therefore,this study planned to investigate BDNF association with the COVID-۱۹ manifestations especially neurologicalimpairments and the infection-induced hypoxia.Methods: We enrolled sixty-four COVID-۱۹ patients and twenty-four healthy individuals in this study. Patientswere divided into two groups, with and without neurological manifestations, and their serum BDNF levels weremeasured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: COVID-۱۹ patients had significantly lower BDNF levels than healthy individuals (p=۰.۰۲۳). BDNFlevels were significantly lower in patients with neurological manifestations compared to healthy individuals (p= ۰.۰۱۰). However, we did not observe a statistically significant difference in BDNF levels between patientswith and without neurological manifestations (p = ۰.۱۷۵). BDNF’s levels were significantly lower in patientswith CNS manifestations (p = ۰.۰۳۹) and higher in patients with fever (p = ۰.۰۳) and dyspnea (p = ۰.۰۰۶).Secondly, BDNF levels have a significant negative association with oxygen therapy requirement (p = ۰.۰۱۵).Conclusion: These results strongly suggest the critical association between dysregulated BDNF and hypoxia inpromoting COVID-۱۹ manifestations, particularly neurological impairments

کلیدواژه ها:

COVID-۱۹ ، BDNF ، Neurological manifestations ، Hypoxia ، Dyspnea