Elevated SARS-CoV-2-Specific Antibody Levels in Patients with Post-COVID Syndrome

Abstract

With the routine use of effective severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines, the number of life-threatening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) courses have largely been reduced. However, multiple COVID-19 convalescents, even after asymptomatic to moderate disease, suffer from post-COVID syndrome, with relevant limitations in daily life. The pathophysiologic mechanisms of post-COVID syndrome are still elusive, with dysregulation of the immune system suggested as a central mechanism. Here, we assessed COVID-19 post-infectious symptoms (5–6 months after PCR-confirmed acute infection) together with the humoral immune response against SARS-CoV-2 in non-hospitalized COVID-19 convalescents, early (5–6 weeks) and late (5–6 months) after their first positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR result. Convalescents reporting several post-infectious symptoms (>3) showed higher anti-spike and anti-nucleocapsid antibody levels 5–6 weeks after PCR-confirmed infection with the latter remained increased 5–6 months after positive PCR. Likewise, a higher post-infectious symptom score was associated with increased antibody levels. Of note, convalescents displaying neuro-psychiatric symptoms such as restlessness, palpitations, irritability, and headache, as well as general symptoms such as fatigue/reduced power had higher SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody levels compared with asymptomatic cases. The increased humoral immune response in convalescents with post-COVID syndrome might be useful for the detection of individuals with an increased risk for post-COVID syndrome.