Low growth hormone secretion associated with post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) neurologic symptoms: A case-control pilot study

Oct 10, 2023Molecular and cellular endocrinology

Low growth hormone levels linked to long-term neurological symptoms after COVID-19 infection

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Abstract

Patients with lingering neurologic symptoms after COVID-19 show reduced growth hormone secretion.

PASC patients reported significantly worse fatigue, sleep quality, depression, quality of life, and gastrointestinal discomfort compared to those without lingering symptoms.
Cognitive testing did not show significant differences between PASC and non-PASC groups, despite self-reported poor mental resilience in PASC subjects.
Neurologic symptoms in PASC patients were not linked to inflammatory markers or adrenal insufficiency.
There is an association between lingering neurologic symptoms and persistent disruption of growth hormone secretion following COVID-19 recovery.

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OBJECTIVE: To determine if patients that develop lingering neurologic symptoms of fatigue and "brain fog" after initial recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have persistent low growth hormone (GH) secretion as seen in other conditions with similar symptom etiology.

DESIGN: In this case-control observational pilot study, patients reporting lingering neurologic post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC, n = 10) symptoms at least 6 months after initial infection were compared to patients that recovered from COVID-19 without lingering symptoms (non-PASC, n = 13). We compared basic blood chemistry and select metabolites, lipids, hormones, inflammatory markers, and vitamins between groups. PASC and non-PASC subjects were tested for neurocognition and GH secretion, and given questionnaires to assess symptom severity. PASC subjects were also tested for glucose tolerance and adrenal function.

RESULTS: PASC subjects reported significantly worse fatigue, sleep quality, depression, quality of life, and gastrointestinal discomfort compared to non-PASC. Although PASC subjects self-reported poor mental resilience, cognitive testing did not reveal significant differences between groups. Neurologic PASC symptoms were not linked to inflammatory markers or adrenal insufficiency, but were associated with reduced growth hormone secretion.

CONCLUSIONS: Neurologic PASC symptoms are associated with gastrointestinal discomfort and persistent disruption of GH secretion following recovery from acute COVID-19. (www.

CLINICALTRIALS: gov; NCT04860869).

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Low growth hormone secretion associated with post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) neurologic symptoms: A case-control pilot study

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