Medical Journal of The Islamic Republic of Iran (MJIRI)
Iran University of Medical Sciences
Tue, Feb 17, 2026
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Volume 39, Issue 1 (1-2025)
Med J Islam Repub Iran 2025 |
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Ghodrati M, Naderian R, Ghasemi A, Tarahomi M, Pooya P, Eslami M et al . Exploring the Link Between SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Cycle Threshold, Clinical Characteristics, and Laboratory Results in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients With Neurological and Autoimmune Conditions. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2025; 39 (1) :1499-1505
URL: http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/article-1-9316-en.html
URL: http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/article-1-9316-en.html
Mohammad Ghodrati 
, Ramtin Naderian , Ali Ghasemi , Mahdieh Tarahomi , Pegah Pooya , Majid Eslami , Hadi Ghaffari
, Ramtin Naderian , Ali Ghasemi , Mahdieh Tarahomi , Pegah Pooya , Majid Eslami , Hadi Ghaffari
Department of Biochemistry and Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran & Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran , Hghaffari@semums.ac.ir
Abstract: (39 Views)
Background: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is having a significant impact on global health and the global economy. Notably, the virus can persist in various organs postinfection, potentially triggering chronic inflammation and long-term health issues, including neurological and autoimmune disorders. This study examines the association between SARS-CoV-2 viral load (measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] cycle threshold [Ct] values) and clinical/laboratory parameters in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with preexisting neurological or autoimmune disorders.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 86 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Kowsar and Amir-Al-Momenin hospitals, affiliated with Semnan University of Medical Sciences, from September 2022 to March 2023. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab samples were collected and analyzed using RT-PCR. Clinical data, including demographic information, clinical manifestations, and laboratory parameters, were statistically analyzed using SPSS (version 26). Variables with P ≤ 0.05 were considered significant.
Results: This cohort study comprised 38 men (44.2%) and 48 women (55.8%), with a median age of 61 years. Neurological diseases were present in 12 patients (14%), and autoimmune diseases were observed in 6 patients (7%). The mean age of patients with neurological diseases was significantly higher than that of patients without neurological diseases (74.75 vs 66.24 years, P = 0.045). At the same time, no significant differences were found in clinical parameters, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), white blood cell (WBC) count, and liver function tests (AST, ALT), between patients with and without neurological or autoimmune diseases. Survival analysis indicated a marginally significant association between neurological diseases and survival (P = 0.050), whereas no significant association was observed for autoimmune diseases.
Conclusion: This study did not find significant associations between SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Ct values and the presence of neurological or autoimmune diseases in COVID-19 patients. While Ct values reflect viral load, other factors, such as pre-existing conditions, genetic predisposition, and immune responses, may play a more critical role in the development of these conditions. Further prospective studies are necessary to elucidate these complex relationships and improve patient treatment strategies.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 86 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Kowsar and Amir-Al-Momenin hospitals, affiliated with Semnan University of Medical Sciences, from September 2022 to March 2023. Nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab samples were collected and analyzed using RT-PCR. Clinical data, including demographic information, clinical manifestations, and laboratory parameters, were statistically analyzed using SPSS (version 26). Variables with P ≤ 0.05 were considered significant.
Results: This cohort study comprised 38 men (44.2%) and 48 women (55.8%), with a median age of 61 years. Neurological diseases were present in 12 patients (14%), and autoimmune diseases were observed in 6 patients (7%). The mean age of patients with neurological diseases was significantly higher than that of patients without neurological diseases (74.75 vs 66.24 years, P = 0.045). At the same time, no significant differences were found in clinical parameters, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), white blood cell (WBC) count, and liver function tests (AST, ALT), between patients with and without neurological or autoimmune diseases. Survival analysis indicated a marginally significant association between neurological diseases and survival (P = 0.050), whereas no significant association was observed for autoimmune diseases.
Conclusion: This study did not find significant associations between SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Ct values and the presence of neurological or autoimmune diseases in COVID-19 patients. While Ct values reflect viral load, other factors, such as pre-existing conditions, genetic predisposition, and immune responses, may play a more critical role in the development of these conditions. Further prospective studies are necessary to elucidate these complex relationships and improve patient treatment strategies.
Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Cycle threshold, Neurological diseases, Autoimmune diseases, RT-PCR, Viral load
Type of Study: Original Research |
Subject:
COVID 19
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