Ischaemic background of brain fog in long-haul COVID-19 – a nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based metabonomic analysis. Preliminary results

PURPOSE: Long-haul COVID-19 is a condition of unknown background occurring in COVID-19 survivors regardless of the severity of the SARS-CoV-2 infection itself. The aim of the study was to evaluate brain changes in patients suffering from variable symptoms of brain fog after COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eleven patients hospitalized due to symptoms of severe brain fog, i.e. insomnia, sudden impairment of cognitive function, headache, and depression, and 14 healthy volunteers underwent brain imaging including MR spectroscopy. RESULTS: Routine MR imaging revealed no specific macroscopic changes in keeping with brain fog. Considering that the clinical manifestation of brain fog is transient, the evaluation of the metabolic status of the brain remained the method of choice. The concentration of the major cerebral metabolites, i.e. NAA, Cho, and Cr, remained stable. However, changes in Glx and Lac concentration were observed in MR spectroscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Following results along with clinical course of the brain for imply probable ischaemic background of symptoms.