Fig. 4

The distribution of special proteins between COVID-19 and DC. (a): the median amyloid beta 1–42 level in CSF was significantly lower in the COVID-19 (43.89 pg/mL) compared to the DC (83.36 pg/mL, p = 0.033). (b): The median level of CHI3L1 in CSF was significantly higher in the COVID-19 (13677 pg/mL) compared to DC (8421 pg/mL, p < 1.00E-04). (c): the median KLK6 level in the CSF was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group (46947 pg/mL) than in the DC group (12186 pg/mL, p < 1.00E-04). (d): the median level of NGF-β in CSF was significantly elevated in the COVID-19 (1.20 pg/mL) compared to the DC (0.42 pg/mL, p < 1.00E-04). (e): COVID-19 patients in the severe or critical condition group had significantly higher CSF GFAP levels compared to those with milder cases (p = 0.020). (f): COVID-19 patients with comorbidities had higher levels of pT181 in the CSF (p = 0.014). (g): higher CSF S100B protein levels were found in patients with decreased consciousness (p = 0.021). (h): for patients with central nervous system (CNS) involvement, CSF Tau protein levels were significantly elevated compared to those without peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement (p = 1.97E-03). * p:0.01–0.05; ** p:0.001–0.01; ***p: 1.00E-04-0.001, ****p < 1.00E-04