Neurotropism and Neuroinflammation in COVID-19 Patients With Delirium.

The BRAINSTORM project aims at creating a proof-of-concept dataset from severe COVID-19 patients with delirium. For the first time, this longitudinal study will rely on repeated and concomitant: i) SARS-CoV-2 quasispecies detection and associated serology testing profiles description (peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid - CSF), ii) systemic and central immune response characterization, associated to the assessment of CNS damage biomarkers (peripheral blood and CSF), iii) in vivo brain PET-TSPO acquisitions (Positon Emission Tomography using a radioligand that targets the Translocator Protein, which is upregulated in activated microglia), iv) structural/functional brain MRI assessment (PWI/DWI mismatch imaging, quantification of gray and white matter microstructural integrity, DTI, functional connectivity), v) multi-domains neurocognitive assessment. This dataset will be made FAIR to allow open data use and to prepare future studies.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult patients (male or female > or = 18 years)
• COVID-19 (positive respiratory track PCR test < 30 days)
• Delirium (CAM-ICU criteria)
• informed and written consent to participate in the study by patient's surrogate.

Exclusion criteria

• medical decision of withdrawal of life sustaining treatments previous to patients recruitment
• former neurological or psychiatric disability
• MRI or PET scan contraindication
• pregnancy
• hemodynamic or respiratory failure precluding patient's transport / MRI or PET scanning