TY - JOUR T1 - Detection of SARS-CoV-2 genomic and subgenomic RNA in retina and optic nerve of patients with COVID-19 JF - British Journal of Ophthalmology JO - Br J Ophthalmol SP - 1313 LP - 1317 DO - 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2020-318618 VL - 106 IS - 9 AU - Maria Casagrande AU - Antonia Fitzek AU - Martin Spitzer AU - Klaus Püschel AU - Markus Glatzel AU - Susanne Krasemann AU - Martin Aepfelbacher AU - Dominik Nörz AU - Marc Lütgehetmann AU - Susanne Pfefferle AU - Maximilian Schultheiss Y1 - 2022/09/01 UR - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/106/9/1313.abstract N2 - Purpose Presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in human retinal biopsies (RBs) was previously reported by us. In this consecutive study, we analysed RB and optic nerve biopsies (ONBs) in deceased patients with confirmed COVID-19 assessing viral RNA load, possible virus replication and infectivity.Patients and methods In this case series, 14 eyes of 14 deceased patients with COVID-19 were enucleated during autopsy. RB and ONB were subjected to molecular detection of viral RNA, virus cultivation and immunohistochemistry. SARS-CoV-2 RNA loads were compared with RNA loads in the respective throat swabs, vitreous humour and blood samples.Results SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 7/14 RBs and in 10/13 ONBs. While virus isolation failed and immunohistochemistry of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was negative, subgenomic RNA (sgRNA) was detectable (40% RB; 60% ONB).Conclusion SARS-CoV-2 RNA is detectable in RB and ONB of patients with COVID-19. Presence of sgRNA could point to a SARS-CoV-2 infection of neuronal tissue, but as virus isolation failed and immunohistochemistry of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was negative, an active infection seems unlikely.All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information. ER -