loading page

Mucosal antibody response and SARS-CoV-2 shedding in patients with COVID-19 related olfactory dysfunction
  • +5
  • Shilpee Sharma,
  • Anaïs Thiriard,
  • Véronique Olislagers,
  • Jerome R. Lechien,
  • Marie-Hélène Jurion,
  • Marie-Luce Delforge,
  • Arnaud Marchant,
  • Sven Saussez
Shilpee Sharma
Universite Libre de Bruxelles Institut d'Immunologie Medicale
Author Profile
Anaïs Thiriard
Universite Libre de Bruxelles Institut d'Immunologie Medicale
Author Profile
Véronique Olislagers
Universite Libre de Bruxelles Institut d'Immunologie Medicale
Author Profile
Jerome R. Lechien
COVID-19 Task Force of the Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-rhino-laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS
Author Profile
Marie-Hélène Jurion
Universite Libre de Bruxelles - Campus Erasme
Author Profile
Marie-Luce Delforge
Universite Libre de Bruxelles - Campus Erasme
Author Profile
Arnaud Marchant
Universite Libre de Bruxelles Institut d'Immunologie Medicale
Author Profile
Sven Saussez
COVID-19 Task Force of the Young-Otolaryngologists of the International Federations of Oto-rhino-laryngological Societies (YO-IFOS

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile

Abstract

Olfactory dysfunction was one of the most common symptom of infection with the Wuhan strain of SARS-CoV-2 and could persist for several months after symptom onset. The pathogenesis of prolonged olfactory dysfunction (OD) remains poorly understood but probably involves sustained viral replication associated with limited mucosal immune response to the virus. This prospective study was conducted to investigate the potential relationship between nasal SARS-CoV-2 viral load and antibody levels in patients with loss of smell. One hundred and five patients were recruited 2 weeks after presenting with confirmed COVID-19 associated OD. Based on the identification sniffing test performed at enrollment, 52 patients were still anosmic or hyposmic and 53 were normosmic. SARS-CoV-2 was detectable in nasal wash of about 50% of anosmic and normosmic patients. Higher viral load was detected in anosmic patients with lower levels of SARS-CoV-2 specific nasal IgG and IgA. This association was not observed in normosmic patients. No relationship between nasal viral load and antibodies to endemic coronaviruses was observed. SARS-CoV-2 replication in the nasal cavity may be promoted by defective mucosal antibody responses in patients with OD. Boosting mucosal immunity may limit nasal SARS-CoV-2 replication and thereby help in the control of persistent OD.
20 Oct 2023Submitted to Journal of Medical Virology
20 Oct 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Oct 2023Submission Checks Completed
20 Oct 2023Assigned to Editor
23 Oct 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Nov 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor