Evidence of the virus behind COVID-19 found in the cornea

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-01-22 11:00

International

Genetic material from the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 has been found in the cornea of patients with COVID-19, according to German research. But despite this, the authors say the risk of COVID-19 infection via corneal transplant is low even in donors with COVID-19, but further research is necessary to assess the rate of SARS-CoV-2 transmission via corneal transplant.

Media release

From: JAMA

Presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Cornea of Patients With COVID-19

JAMA Ophthalmology
Original Investigation

Presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the Cornea of Viremic Patients With COVID-19

JAMA Ophthalmology

What The Study Did: Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in human corneas was examined in this study.

Authors: Maria Casagrande, M.D., of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Hamburg, Germany, is the corresponding author.

(doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.6339)

Editor’s Note: The article includes conflict of interest and funding/support disclosures. Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

# # #

Attachments

Note: Not all attachments are visible to the general public. Research URLs will go live after the embargo ends.

Research JAMA, Web page Please link to the article in online versions of your report

Journal/
conference: JAMA Ophthalmology

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany

Funder: Dr Lütgehetmann was supported by a grant from the research consortium DEFEAT PANDEMics, funded by the Netzwerk Universitätsmedizin.

Media Contact/s

Contact details are only visible to registered journalists.