Unveiling the Metabolic and Coagulation Disruptions in
SARS-CoV-2-Associated Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy: A Case-control
Study
Abstract
Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection has been associated with the increased
incidence of acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN), an infrequent ocular
disorder. However, the precise mechanisms underpinning AMN in the
context of SARS-CoV-2 infection (AMN-SARS-CoV-2) remain elusive.
Methods: In this case-control study 14 patients diagnosed with
AMN-SARS-CoV-2 between 2022/12 and 2023/3 were enrolled in this study.
14 SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals without AMN (SARS-CoV-2-no AMN) as
control. 14 AMN-SARS-CoV-2 patients were compared with 14 SARS-CoV-2-no
AMN. Metabolomic profiling using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid
Chromatography-Online Electrospray Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-OE-MS)
revealed significant alterations in serum metabolites in AMN-SARS-CoV-2
patients. Abnormal blood clotting was observed in AMN-SARS-CoV-2
patients, and its relationship with metabolic disorders was studied.
Finally, a predictive model for AMN-SARS-CoV-2 was established. Results:
76 upregulated and 42 downregulated metabolites were discovered in
AMN-SARS-CoV-2. Notably, arginine metabolism within the urea cycle
showed substantial changes, evidenced by variations in ornithine,
citrulline, L-proline, and ADAM levels, correlating with abnormal
coagulation markers like platelet crit (PCT), fibrinogen degradation
products (FDP), and fibrinogen (Fbg). Additionally, increased arginase 1
(AGR1) activity within the urea cycle and reduced nitric oxide synthase
(NOS) activity were observed in AMN-SARS-CoV-2. Combining these urea
cycle metabolites with coagulation parameters effectively distinguished
AMN-SARS-CoV-2 from SARS-CoV-2-no AMN, with an area under the curve
(AUC) value of 0.96. Conclusion: The findings of the present study
enhance our comprehension of the underlying metabolic mechanisms
associated with AMN-SARS-CoV-2 and offer potential diagnostic markers
for this uncommon ocular disorder within the context of SARS-CoV-2
infection.