Elevated Plasma Level of Circulating Immune Complexes in Nigerian Adults infected with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2

Abstract

Emerging reports indicate that immune complexes (ICs) play active roles in COVID-19 immunopathology. Since the pathogenic mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 still remains to be fully explored, understanding the changes in circulating IC (CIC) level during the course of COVID-19 could be of clinical importance. The plasma level of CIC was thus, determined in Nigerian adults with COVID-19. Forty-nine adults consisting of 30 patients with mild COVID-19 and 19 healthy controls were enrolled into this case-control study. The COVID-19 patients were followed up till discharged from the isolation centre. Plasma levels of CIC were determined using the polyethylene glycol precipitation method. The mean CIC level was higher in COVID-19 patients at diagnosis compared with the controls. However, there was no significant difference in the mean plasma levels of CIC at discharge compared with the level at diagnosis in COVID-19 patients. It could be concluded from this study that the plasma level of CIC is elevated in adults with COVID-19 and may be involved in the immunopathology of the disease