Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39592773›Full record

ArticlePediatric research2025

Long COVID syndrome in children: neutrophilic granulocyte dysfunction and its correlation with disease severity.

Fanni Kovács, Tamás Posvai, Eszter Zsáry, Ferenc Kolonics, Réka Garai, Vivien Herczeg, Domonkos Czárán, Johanna Takács, Attila József Szabó, Péter Krivácsy and 1 more

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Article in Pediatric research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Fanni Kovács *Pediatric Center, MTA Center of Excellence, Semmelweis University, Bókay Unit, Bókay János Street 53-54, 1083, Budapest, Hungary.
Tamás Posvai *Department of Physiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Eszter ZsáryPediatric Center, MTA Center of Excellence, Semmelweis University, Bókay Unit, Bókay János Street 53-54, 1083, Budapest, Hungary.
Ferenc KolonicsDepartment of Physiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Réka GaraiPediatric Center, MTA Center of Excellence, Semmelweis University, Bókay Unit, Bókay János Street 53-54, 1083, Budapest, Hungary.
Vivien HerczegPediatric Center, MTA Center of Excellence, Semmelweis University, Bókay Unit, Bókay János Street 53-54, 1083, Budapest, Hungary.
Domonkos CzáránDepartment of Physiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Johanna TakácsDepartment of Social Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
Attila József SzabóPediatric Center, MTA Center of Excellence, Semmelweis University, Bókay Unit, Bókay János Street 53-54, 1083, Budapest, Hungary.
Péter KrivácsyPediatric Center, MTA Center of Excellence, Semmelweis University, Bókay Unit, Bókay János Street 53-54, 1083, Budapest, Hungary.
Roland Csépányi-KömiDepartment of Physiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. csepanyi-komi.roland@semmelweis.hu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMany children suffer from lingering symptoms after COVID-19, known as long COVID syndrome (LCS), otherwise called Post COVID-19 Condition (PCC). Despite extensive research, the prevalence of symptoms, its impact on quality of life, and underlying mechanisms still need to be fully understood. As neutrophilic granulocytes play an essential role in COVID-19, and their prolonged disruption was found to cause immunological diseases, we hypothesized their ongoing disturbed functionality in LCS.

methodsWe studied 129 children with LCS, 32 convalescent children (CG+), and 8 uninfected children (CG-). Online questionnaires and in-person examinations assessed symptoms, quality of life, and functioning (QoL-F). Effector functions of neutrophilic granulocytes obtained from the venous blood of 29 LCS and 17 CG+ children were also investigated.

resultsPersistent fatigue was the most common symptom in children with LCS, while both control groups complained about anxiety most frequently. LCS children experienced significantly more symptoms, impairing their QoL-F compared to CG+. Neutrophilic granulocyte dysfunction was found in LCS children, with decreased superoxide-producing activity and phagocytosis compared to CG+. The number of complaints of children with LCS correlated significantly with altered neutrophil effector functions.

conclusionNeutrophil dysfunction in children with LCS may be part of the disease pathogenesis or a predisposing factor. IMPACT: Using online questionnaires validated during in-person medical examinations and including two different control groups, our study compellingly supports and adds to previous clinical observations in the field. Our study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and characteristics of pediatric LCS, highlighting the significant quality of life and functioning impairment compared to control groups. By detecting neutrophilic granulocyte dysfunction in children with LCS, we shed light on a previously overlooked pathophysiological component of the condition. We demonstrate a significant correlation between clinical symptoms and superoxide production, further enhancing our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of pediatric LCS.

Indexed as

COVID-19NeutrophilsAdolescentCase-Control StudiesChildChild, PreschoolFatigueFemaleGranulocytesHumansMalePhagocytosisQuality of LifeSARS-CoV-2Severity of Illness IndexSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID39592773
PMCPMC12411219

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.