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The causal association between COVID-19 and ischemic stroke: a mendelian randomization study
Zhaojie Zhang1, Jie Hua2, Liang Chen3
1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital Lishui Branch, Nanjing Lishui People's Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, 211200, China.
Virology Journal
|November 7, 2024
Summary
Severe COVID-19 increases ischemic stroke risk, but not general SARS-CoV-2 infection. Ten shared genes may mediate this link, offering therapeutic targets for COVID-19 patients with stroke.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Observational data links COVID-19 to increased ischemic stroke (IS) incidence.
- The causal relationship between COVID-19 and IS requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the causal relationship between COVID-19 and IS using a Mendelian randomization approach.
- To identify shared genetic factors underlying severe COVID-19 and IS.
Main Methods:
- A two-sample Mendelian randomization (2S-MR) analysis was performed using genome-wide association study (GWAS) data.
- Investigated genetic determinants of SARS-CoV-2 infection, COVID-19 hospitalization, and severe COVID-19 in relation to IS incidence.
- Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) and GWAS data were analyzed to find common causative genes.
Main Results:
- Genetic variants for COVID-19 hospitalization and severe COVID-19 were significantly associated with increased IS odds.
- No causal association was found between genetic susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and IS occurrence.
- Ten shared causal genes, enriched in immune and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system pathways, were identified as potential mediators.
Conclusions:
- A causative link exists between COVID-19 severity and ischemic stroke risk.
- Identified shared genes provide potential therapeutic targets for managing severe COVID-19 with IS complications.
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