Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41694343›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2026

Disturbed regulation of immunothrombosis in cerebral ischemia associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Richard Plem, Nicole de Buhr, Rabea Imker, Silke Akhdar, Marita Meurer, Christine S Falk, Johanna Ernst, Maria M Gabriel, Jana Keil, Verena Kopfnagel and 8 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Richard Plem *Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Nicole de Buhr *Institute of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Rabea ImkerInstitute of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Silke AkhdarInstitute of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Marita MeurerInstitute of Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
Christine S FalkInstitute of Transplant Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Johanna ErnstDepartment of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Maria M GabrielDepartment of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Jana KeilInstitute of Transplant Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Verena KopfnagelHannover Unified Biobank, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Thomas IlligHannover Unified Biobank, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Karin WeissenbornDepartment of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Sabine BlaschkeEmergency Department, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany.
Isabel BröhlGoethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Digital Medicine and Clinical Data Sciences, Frankfurt, Germany.
Christoph RömmeleInternal Medicine III - Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany.
NAPKON Investigators
Gerrit M Grosse *Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Ramona Schuppner *Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became evident that an infection with SARS-CoV-2 is associated with an increased predisposition for thrombembolic events. Recent studies suggest an excessive neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-formation in response to SARS-CoV-2, which is considered a hallmark in immunothrombosis. A better understanding of the (dys)regulation of NET-formation in COVID-19 may provide the basis for new therapeutic strategies. Methods: We conducted a pilot study with a total of 84 patients in three groups matched in a 1:1:1 fashion: Group 1: patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and SARS-CoV-2 infection, Group 2: patients with AIS and no SARS-CoV-2 infection and Group 3: patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and no AIS or TIA. Venous blood samples were collected from all patients and subsequently analyzed for NET-specific markers, NET regulators (Deoxyribonuclease (DNase) activity) and a panel of cytokines. Results: Citrullinated histone3 (H3cit) and elastase levels were higher in groups with SARS-CoV-2 infection (Groups 1 and 3) compared to patients without ((group 1: H3cit = 2.9 (1.11-6.89) ng/mL, elastase = 312.1 (162-435.4) ng/mL and group 3: H3cit = 3.31 (2.03-7.97) ng/mL and elastase = 433.1 (281-783.8) ng/mL) vs. group 2: H3cit = 1.17 (0.61-2.15) ng/mL), elastase = 195.1 (91.99-386.9) ng/mL). No relevant differences were found regarding other measured NET-marker (myeloperoxidase, LL-37). DNase activity was lower in group 1 (6.12 (4.97-6.78) pmol/mL/min) compared to both other groups (group 2: (7.16 (5.88-7.85) pmol/mL/min) (p=0.018) and group 3 (7.19 (5.52-8.54) pmol/mL/min) (p=0.013). Conclusion: This pilot data suggest that a disturbed regulation of NETs in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection may play a role in SARS-CoV-2 associated cerebral ischemia. These results highlight the importance of further investigating the role of NETs in immunothrombosis in the context of viral infections, to better understand its potential as a target for therapeutic strategies.

Indexed as

Brain IschemiaCOVID-19Extracellular TrapsSARS-CoV-2ThromboinflammationAgedBiomarkersCytokinesFemaleHistonesHumansIschemic Attack, TransientIschemic StrokeMaleMiddle AgedNeutrophilsBiomarkersCytokinesHistonesacute ischemic strokeimmunothrombosisneutrophil extracellular trapsSARS-CoV-2transient ischemic attack

Identifiers

PMID41694343
PMCPMC12894018

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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.