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He S, Blombäck M, Wallén H. COVID-19: Not a thrombotic disease but a thromboinflammatory disease. Ups J Med Sci 2024; 129:9863. [PMID: 38327640 PMCID: PMC10845889 DOI: 10.48101/ujms.v129.9863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
While Coronavirus Disease in 2019 (COVID-19) may no longer be classified as a global public health emergency, it still poses a significant risk at least due to its association with thrombotic events. This study aims to reaffirm our previous hypothesis that COVID-19 is fundamentally a thrombotic disease. To accomplish this, we have undertaken an extensive literature review focused on assessing the comprehensive impact of COVID-19 on the entire hemostatic system. Our analysis revealed that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection significantly enhances the initiation of thrombin generation. However, it is noteworthy that the thrombin generation may be modulated by specific anticoagulants present in patients' plasma. Consequently, higher levels of fibrinogen appear to play a more pivotal role in promoting coagulation in COVID-19, as opposed to thrombin generation. Furthermore, the viral infection can stimulate platelet activation either through widespread dissemination from the lungs to other organs or localized effects on platelets themselves. An imbalance between Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) and ADAMTS-13 also contributes to an exaggerated platelet response in this disease, in addition to elevated D-dimer levels, coupled with a significant increase in fibrin viscoelasticity. This paradoxical phenotype has been identified as 'fibrinolysis shutdown'. To clarify the pathogenesis underlying these hemostatic disorders in COVID-19, we also examined published data, tracing the reaction process of relevant proteins and cells, from ACE2-dependent viral invasion, through induced tissue inflammation, endothelial injury, and innate immune responses, to occurrence of thrombotic events. We therefrom understand that COVID-19 should no longer be viewed as a thrombotic disease solely based on abnormalities in fibrin clot formation and proteolysis. Instead, it should be regarded as a thromboinflammatory disorder, incorporating both classical elements of cellular inflammation and their intricate interactions with the specific coagulopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu He
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Coagulation Research, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Margareta Blombäck
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Coagulation Research, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Håkan Wallén
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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2
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Wismüller A, DSouza AM, Abidin AZ, Ali Vosoughi M, Gange C, Cortopassi IO, Bozovic G, Bankier AA, Batra K, Chodakiewitz Y, Xi Y, Whitlow CT, Ponnatapura J, Wendt GJ, Weinberg EP, Stockmaster L, Shrier DA, Shin MC, Modi R, Lo HS, Kligerman S, Hamid A, Hahn LD, Garcia GM, Chung JH, Altes T, Abbara S, Bader AS. Early-stage COVID-19 pandemic observations on pulmonary embolism using nationwide multi-institutional data harvesting. NPJ Digit Med 2022; 5:120. [PMID: 35986059 PMCID: PMC9388980 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-022-00653-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We introduce a multi-institutional data harvesting (MIDH) method for longitudinal observation of medical imaging utilization and reporting. By tracking both large-scale utilization and clinical imaging results data, the MIDH approach is targeted at measuring surrogates for important disease-related observational quantities over time. To quantitatively investigate its clinical applicability, we performed a retrospective multi-institutional study encompassing 13 healthcare systems throughout the United States before and after the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Using repurposed software infrastructure of a commercial AI-based image analysis service, we harvested data on medical imaging service requests and radiology reports for 40,037 computed tomography pulmonary angiograms (CTPA) to evaluate for pulmonary embolism (PE). Specifically, we compared two 70-day observational periods, namely (i) a pre-pandemic control period from 11/25/2019 through 2/2/2020, and (ii) a period during the early COVID-19 pandemic from 3/8/2020 through 5/16/2020. Natural language processing (NLP) on final radiology reports served as the ground truth for identifying positive PE cases, where we found an NLP accuracy of 98% for classifying radiology reports as positive or negative for PE based on a manual review of 2,400 radiology reports. Fewer CTPA exams were performed during the early COVID-19 pandemic than during the pre-pandemic period (9806 vs. 12,106). However, the PE positivity rate was significantly higher (11.6 vs. 9.9%, p < 10-4) with an excess of 92 PE cases during the early COVID-19 outbreak, i.e., ~1.3 daily PE cases more than statistically expected. Our results suggest that MIDH can contribute value as an exploratory tool, aiming at a better understanding of pandemic-related effects on healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Wismüller
- Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
- Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Adora M DSouza
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Anas Z Abidin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - M Ali Vosoughi
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Christopher Gange
- Department of Radiology & Biomedical Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Isabel O Cortopassi
- Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Gracijela Bozovic
- Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Alexander A Bankier
- Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Kiran Batra
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yosef Chodakiewitz
- Department of Imaging, S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yin Xi
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Gary J Wendt
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Eric P Weinberg
- Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Larry Stockmaster
- Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - David A Shrier
- Department of Imaging Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Min Chul Shin
- Department of Radiology, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Roshan Modi
- Department of Radiology, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Hao Steven Lo
- Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Seth Kligerman
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Aws Hamid
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Lewis D Hahn
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Jonathan H Chung
- Department of Radiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Suhny Abbara
- Department of Radiology, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Anna S Bader
- Department of Radiology & Biomedical Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
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3
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Henning RJ. Cardiovascular complications of COVID-19 severe acute respiratory syndrome. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE 2022; 12:170-191. [PMID: 36147783 PMCID: PMC9490160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
603,711,760 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported throughout the world and 6,484,136 individuals have died from complications of COVID-19 as of September 7, 2022. Significantly, the Omicron variant has produced the largest number of COVID-19 associated hospitalizations since the beginning of the pandemic. Cardiac injury occurs in ≥20% of the hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and is associated with cardiac dysrhythmias in 17 to 44%, cardiac injury with increases in blood troponin in 22 to 40%, myocarditis in 2 to 7%, heart failure in 4 to 21%, and thromboembolic events in 15 to 39%. Risk factors for cardiac complications include age >70 years, male sex, BMI ≥30 kg/m2, diabetes, pre-existing cardiovascular disease, and moderate to severe pneumonia at hospital presentation. Patients with prior cardiovascular disease who contract COVID-19 and experience a significant increase in their blood troponin concentration are at risk for mortality rates as high as 69%. This review focuses on the prevalence, the pathophysiologic mechanisms of CoV-2 injury to the cardiovascular system and the current recommended treatments in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in order that medical personnel can decrease the morbidity and mortality of patients with COVID-19 and effectively treat patients with Covid and post Covid syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Henning
- University of South Florida 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Tampa, Florida 33612-3805, USA
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Grootemaat AE, van der Niet S, Scholl ER, Roos E, Schurink B, Bugiani M, Miller SE, Larsen P, Pankras J, Reits EA, van der Wel NN. Lipid and Nucleocapsid N-Protein Accumulation in COVID-19 Patient Lung and Infected Cells. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0127121. [PMID: 35171025 PMCID: PMC8849100 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01271-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The pandemic of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has caused a global outbreak and prompted an enormous research effort. Still, the subcellular localization of the coronavirus in lungs of COVID-19 patients is not well understood. Here, the localization of the SARS-CoV-2 proteins is studied in postmortem lung material of COVID-19 patients and in SARS-CoV-2-infected Vero cells, processed identically. Correlative light and electron microscopy on semithick cryo-sections demonstrated induction of electron-lucent, lipid-filled compartments after SARS-CoV-2 infection in both lung and cell cultures. In lung tissue, the nonstructural protein 4 and the stable nucleocapsid N-protein were detected on these novel lipid-filled compartments. The induction of such lipid-filled compartments and the localization of the viral proteins in lung of patients with fatal COVID-19 may explain the extensive inflammatory response and provide a new hallmark for SARS-CoV-2 infection at the final, fatal stage of infection. IMPORTANCE Visualization of the subcellular localization of SARS-CoV-2 proteins in lung patient material of COVID-19 patients is important for the understanding of this new virus. We detected viral proteins in the context of the ultrastructure of infected cells and tissues and discovered that some viral proteins accumulate in novel, lipid-filled compartments. These structures are induced in Vero cells but, more importantly, also in lung of patients with COVID-19. We have characterized these lipid-filled compartments and determined that this is a novel, virus-induced structure. Immunogold labeling demonstrated that cellular markers, such as CD63 and lipid droplet marker PLIN-2, are absent. Colocalization of lipid-filled compartments with the stable N-protein and nonstructural protein 4 in lung of the last stages of COVID-19 indicates that these compartments play a key role in the devastating immune response that SARS-CoV-2 infections provoke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita E. Grootemaat
- Electron Microscopy Centre Amsterdam, Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre (UMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne van der Niet
- Electron Microscopy Centre Amsterdam, Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre (UMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Edwin R. Scholl
- Electron Microscopy Centre Amsterdam, Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre (UMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eva Roos
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bernadette Schurink
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marianna Bugiani
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sara E. Miller
- Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Per Larsen
- Electron Microscopy Centre Amsterdam, Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre (UMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jeannette Pankras
- Electron Microscopy Centre Amsterdam, Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre (UMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (UMC), VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eric A. Reits
- Electron Microscopy Centre Amsterdam, Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre (UMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Nicole N. van der Wel
- Electron Microscopy Centre Amsterdam, Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre (UMC), Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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5
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Odilov A, Volkov A, Abdullaev A, Gasanova T, Lipina T, Babichenko I. COVID-19: Multiorgan Dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 Is Driven by Pulmonary Factors. Viruses 2021; 14:v14010039. [PMID: 35062243 PMCID: PMC8777766 DOI: 10.3390/v14010039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Multi-organ failure is one of the common causes of fatal outcome in COVID-19 patients. However, the pathogenetic association of the SARS-CoV-2 viral load (VL) level with fatal dysfunctions of the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, spleen and brain, as well as with the risk of death in COVID-19 patients remains poorly understood. SARS-CoV-2 VL in the lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, brain, spleen and lymph nodes have been measured by RT qPCR using the following formula: NSARS-CoV-2/NABL1 × 100. Dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 in 30.5% of cases was mono-organ, and in 63.9% of cases, it was multi-organ. The average SARS-CoV-2 VL in the exudative phase of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) was 60 times higher than in the proliferative phase. The SARS-CoV-2 VL in the lungs ranged from 0 to 250,281 copies. The "pulmonary factors" of SARS-CoV-2 multi-organ dissemination are the high level of SARS-CoV-2 VL (≥4909) and the exudative phase of DAD. The frequency of SARS-CoV-2 dissemination to lymph nodes was 86.9%, heart-56.5%, spleen-52.2%, liver-47.8%, kidney-26%, and brain-13%. We found no link between the SARS-CoV-2 VL level in the liver, kidneys, and heart and the serum level of CPK, LDH, ALP, ALT, AST and Cr of COVID-19 patients. Isolated detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the myocardium of COVID-19 patients who died from heart failure is possible. The pathogenesis of COVID-19-associated multi-organ failure requires further research in a larger cohort of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akmaljon Odilov
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Peoples′ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya St, Moscow 117198, Russia; (A.V.); (I.B.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Alexey Volkov
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Peoples′ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya St, Moscow 117198, Russia; (A.V.); (I.B.)
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Municipal Clinical Hospital Named after E.O. Mukhin, Moscow 111399, Russia
| | - Adhamjon Abdullaev
- Laboratory of Molecular Hematology, National Research Center for Hematology, Novy Zykovski lane 4a, Moscow 125167, Russia;
| | - Tatiana Gasanova
- Department of Virology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie gori, 1, 40, Moscow 119234, Russia;
| | - Tatiana Lipina
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie gori, 1, 12, Moscow 119234, Russia;
| | - Igor Babichenko
- Department of Pathological Anatomy, Peoples′ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya St, Moscow 117198, Russia; (A.V.); (I.B.)
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6
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Prouse G, Ettorre L, Mongelli F, Demundo D, van den Berg JC, Catanese C, Fumagalli L, Usai C, Spinedi L, Riva F, Bertoni MV, Giovannacci L. SOFA Score as a Reliable Tool to Detect High Risk for Venous Thrombosis in Patients With Critical Stage SARS-CoV-2. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:729298. [PMID: 34778398 PMCID: PMC8581480 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.729298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome from coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Different anticoagulation protocols have been applied in several studies in the absence of clear evidence. A reliable deep venous thrombosis (DVT) indicator in critical patients with SARS-CoV-2 could guide the anticoagulation treatment; however, it has not yet been identified, and clinical applicability of the most common markers is debatable. The aim of our study was to determine the actual incidence of DVT in critically ill SARS-CoV-2 patients and to find a reliable tool to identify patients who might benefit from therapeutic-intensity anticoagulation. Methods: From March 1, 2020 to May 31, 2020, all patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for SARS-CoV-2 at Ospedale Regionale di Locarno, Locarno, Switzerland, were prospectively enrolled and screened daily with ultrasound for DVT. Following international consensus, a higher-intensity thromboprophylaxis was administered to all patients who were not at increased risk for bleeding. Sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores were calculated and time-to-DVT event in a COX proportional-hazard regression model was performed. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine sensitivity and specificity and the Youden's Index to establish the best threshold. Results: A total of 96 patients were enrolled. Deep venous thrombosis was detected in 37% of patients. Sepsis-induced coagulopathy and SOFA scores were both correlated to DVT. A SIC score of 1 vs. ≥2 showed a close association with DVT, with sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 90.0, 48.1, and 49.1, and 89.7%, respectively. Most significantly though, a SOFA score of 1 or 2 points was shown to be the most accurate value in predicting the absence of DVT, indicating no need for therapeutic-intensity anticoagulation. Its sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were 87.9, 100, and 100, and 93.7%, respectively. The D-dimer test showed lower sensitivity and specificity whereas platelet count and aPTT were not found to be correlated to DVT. Conclusions: Patients with SOFA scores of 1 or 2 are at low risk of developing DVT and do not require therapeutic-intensity anticoagulation. Conversely, patients with scores ≥3 are at high risk of developing DVT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Prouse
- Service of Vascular Surgery, Centro Vascolare Ticino, Ospedali Regionali di Lugano, Bellinzona e Locarno, Switzerland
| | - Ludovica Ettorre
- Service of Vascular Surgery, Centro Vascolare Ticino, Ospedali Regionali di Lugano, Bellinzona e Locarno, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Mongelli
- Department of Surgery, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Demundo
- Istituto di Imaging Della Svizzera Italiana, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Jos C van den Berg
- Istituto di Imaging Della Svizzera Italiana, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Carola Catanese
- Istituto di Imaging Della Svizzera Italiana, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Luca Fumagalli
- Department of Surgery, Ospedale Regionale di Lugano, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Corrado Usai
- Istituto di Imaging Della Svizzera Italiana, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Luca Spinedi
- Service of Angiology, Ospedale Regionale di Locarno, Locarno, Switzerland
| | - Francesca Riva
- Service of Vascular Surgery, Centro Vascolare Ticino, Ospedali Regionali di Lugano, Bellinzona e Locarno, Switzerland
| | | | - Luca Giovannacci
- Service of Vascular Surgery, Centro Vascolare Ticino, Ospedali Regionali di Lugano, Bellinzona e Locarno, Switzerland
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7
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Stassi C, Mondello C, Baldino G, Cardia L, Asmundo A, Ventura Spagnolo E. An Insight into the Role of Postmortem Immunohistochemistry in the Comprehension of the Inflammatory Pathophysiology of COVID-19 Disease and Vaccine-Related Thrombotic Adverse Events: A Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222112024. [PMID: 34769454 PMCID: PMC8584583 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222112024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic due to the spread of COVID-19 from Wuhan, China, causing high mortality rates all over the world. The related disease, which mainly affects the lungs, is responsible for the onset of Diffuse Alveolar Damage (DAD) and a hypercoagulability state, frequently leading to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and multiorgan failure, particularly in old and severe-critically ill patients. In order to find effective therapeutic strategies, many efforts have been made aiming to shed light on the pathophysiology of COVID-19 disease. Moreover, following the late advent of vaccination campaigns, the need for the comprehension of the pathophysiology of the fatal, although rare, thrombotic adverse events has become mandatory as well. The achievement of such purposes needs a multidisciplinary approach, depending on a correct interpretation of clinical, biochemical, biomolecular, and forensic findings. In this scenario, autopsies have helped in defining, on both gross and histologic examinations, the main changes to which the affected organs undergo and the role in assessing whether a patient is dead “from” or “with” COVID-19, not to mention whether the existence of a causal link exists between vaccination and thrombotic adverse events. In the present work, we explored the role of postmortem immunohistochemistry, and the increasingly used ancillary technique, in helping to understand the mechanism underlying the pathophysiology of both COVID-19 disease and COVID-19 vaccine-related adverse and rare effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Stassi
- Legal Medicine Section, Department for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro, 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (C.S.); (G.B.)
| | - Cristina Mondello
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98125 Messina, Italy;
- Correspondence: (C.M.); (E.V.S.); Tel.: +39-347-706-2414 (C.M.); +39-349-646-5532 (E.V.S.)
| | - Gennaro Baldino
- Legal Medicine Section, Department for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro, 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (C.S.); (G.B.)
| | - Luigi Cardia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Alessio Asmundo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Elvira Ventura Spagnolo
- Legal Medicine Section, Department for Health Promotion and Mother-Child Care, University of Palermo, Via del Vespro, 129, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (C.S.); (G.B.)
- Correspondence: (C.M.); (E.V.S.); Tel.: +39-347-706-2414 (C.M.); +39-349-646-5532 (E.V.S.)
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8
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Analyses for the presence of SARS-CoV‑2 in the tissues of COVID-19 patients is important in order to improve our understanding of the disease pathophysiology for interpretation of diagnostic histopathological findings in autopsies, biopsies, or surgical specimens and to assess the potential for occupational infectious hazard. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this review we identified 136 published studies in PubMed's curated literature database LitCovid on SARS-CoV‑2 detection methods in tissues and evaluated them regarding sources of error, specificity, and sensitivity of the methods, taking into account our own experience. RESULTS Currently, no sufficiently specific histomorphological alterations or diagnostic features for COVID-19 are known. Therefore, three approaches for SARS-CoV‑2 detection are used: RNA, proteins/antigens, or morphological detection by electron microscopy. In the preanalytical phase, the dominant source of error is tissue quality, especially the different intervals between sample collection and processing or fixation (and its duration) and specifically the interval between death and sample collection in autopsies. However, this information is found in less than half of the studies (e.g., in only 42% of autopsy studies). Our own experience and first studies prove the significantly higher sensitivity and specificity of RNA-based detection methods compared to antigen or protein detection by immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence. Detection by electron microscopy is time consuming and difficult to interpret. CONCLUSIONS Different methods are available for the detection of SARS-CoV‑2 in tissue. Currently, RNA detection by RT-PCR is the method of choice. However, extensive validation studies and method harmonization are not available and are absolutely necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peter Boor
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.
- Medical Clinic II (Nephrology and Immunology), University Hospital of RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
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9
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Tomerak S, Khan S, Almasri M, Hussein R, Abdelati A, Aly A, Salameh MA, Saed Aldien A, Naveed H, Elshazly MB, Zakaria D. Systemic inflammation in COVID‐19 patients may induce various types of venous and arterial thrombosis: A systematic review. Scand J Immunol 2021; 94:e13097. [PMID: 34940978 PMCID: PMC8646950 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
COVID‐19 is a global pandemic with a daily increasing number of affected individuals. Thrombosis is a severe complication of COVID‐19 that leads to a worse clinical course with higher rates of mortality. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that hyperinflammation plays a crucial role in disease progression. This review compiles clinical data of COVID‐19 patients who developed thrombotic complications to investigate the possible role of hyperinflammation in inducing hypercoagulation. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Embase, Medline and Scopus to identify relevant clinical studies that investigated thrombotic manifestations and reported inflammatory and coagulation biomarkers in COVID‐19 patients. Only 54 studies met our inclusion criteria, the majority of which demonstrated significantly elevated inflammatory markers. In the cohort studies with control, D‐dimer was significantly higher in COVID‐19 patients with thrombosis as compared to the control. Pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis and strokes were frequently reported which could be attributed to the hyperinflammatory response associated with COVID‐19 and/or to the direct viral activation of platelets and endothelial cells, two mechanisms that are discussed in this review. It is recommended that all admitted COVID‐19 patients should be assessed for hypercoagulation. Furthermore, several studies have suggested that anticoagulation may be beneficial, especially in hospitalized non‐ICU patients. Although vaccines against SARS‐CoV‐2 have been approved and distributed in several countries, research should continue in the field of prevention and treatment of COVID‐19 and its severe complications including thrombosis due to the emergence of new variants against which the efficacy of the vaccines is not yet clear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Tomerak
- Weill Cornell Medicine QatarQatar Foundation Doha Qatar
| | - Safah Khan
- Weill Cornell Medicine QatarQatar Foundation Doha Qatar
| | - Muna Almasri
- Weill Cornell Medicine QatarQatar Foundation Doha Qatar
| | - Rawan Hussein
- Weill Cornell Medicine QatarQatar Foundation Doha Qatar
| | - Ali Abdelati
- Weill Cornell Medicine QatarQatar Foundation Doha Qatar
| | - Ahmed Aly
- Weill Cornell Medicine QatarQatar Foundation Doha Qatar
| | | | | | - Hiba Naveed
- Weill Cornell Medicine QatarQatar Foundation Doha Qatar
| | | | - Dalia Zakaria
- Weill Cornell Medicine QatarQatar Foundation Doha Qatar
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Vishwajeet V, Purohit A, Kumar D, Parag V, Tripathi S, Kanchan T, Kothari N, Dutt N, Elhence PA, Bhatia PK, Nag VL, Garg MK, Misra S. Evaluation of Pathological Findings of COVID-19 by Minimally Invasive Autopsies: A Single Tertiary Care Center Experience from India. J Lab Physicians 2021; 13:97-106. [PMID: 34483552 PMCID: PMC8409114 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1730750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives
The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has spread across the globe with more than 6 lakh deaths. Clinical autopsies are important to understand the pathobiology of the disease.
Materials and Methods
Autopsy techniques have been modified to be minimally invasive autopsies in all COVID-19 positive cases, and tissue biopsies were sampled from lungs, liver, and bone marrow within an hour after death. Detailed histological analysis was performed in the sampled tissues, along with immunohistochemistry. Patients’ clinical records were collected.
Statistical Analysis
Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data.
Results
Of the 21 cases studied, 76.2% patients were ≥ 60 years of age, 80.9% were males, and 85.7% had co-morbidities. Histopathological analysis revealed diffuse alveolar damage (including exudative and organizing phase) in 88.9% cases. Microthrombi were seen in 44.4% cases. Additional findings include viral cytopathic changes, metaplastic change in the epithelium, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, and pulmonary edema. Liver showed centrizonal congestion with hepatocytic loss, lobular inflammation, steatosis, Kupffer cell hypertrophy, and sinusoidal neutrophilic infiltration, while significant portal infiltrate and cholestasis were absent to minimal. Bone marrow revealed hemophagocytosis in 60% cases.
Conclusion
Incorporation of minimally invasive autopsies provides an effective method to study the pathological findings in COVID-19 deaths in resource-constrained settings. Presence of pulmonary microthrombi in a significant number of cases supports the vascular events, apart from the characteristic diffuse alveolar damage, as an important pathogenic mechanism for lung injury in COVID-19 infections. Histopathological findings in the liver and bone marrow suggest indirect insult to these organs, related to circulatory and/or hyperinflammatory response to viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikarn Vishwajeet
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Abhishek Purohit
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Deepak Kumar
- Department of General Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Vijay Parag
- Department of General Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Swapnil Tripathi
- Department of General Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Tanuj Kanchan
- Department of Forensic Medical and Toxicology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Nikhil Kothari
- Department of Anaesthesia, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Naveen Dutt
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Poonam Abhay Elhence
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Pradeep Kumar Bhatia
- Department of Anaesthesia, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Vijaya Lakshmi Nag
- Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Mahendra Kumar Garg
- Department of General Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Sanjeev Misra
- Department of Surgical Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
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11
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Keane G, Dorman T. Fatal pulmonary thromboembolism in asymptomatic COVID-19. Ir J Med Sci 2021; 191:1777-1783. [PMID: 34482482 PMCID: PMC8418686 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-021-02735-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has claimed the lives of millions of people globally. Aims This study aims to identify the pathological findings at autopsy of asymptomatic COVID-19 death, to compare the incidence of acute bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism (ABPTE) in asymptomatic COVID-19 deaths versus non-COVID-19 deaths and to explore the possible pathogenesis of thrombosis in COVID-19. We also consider the place of COVID-19 in the death certification of 4 cases who died from ABPTE. Methods This study primarily reviewed post-mortem reports of 6 asymptomatic COVID-19 deaths. Post-mortem reports for the years 2019 and 2020 were also reviewed to establish the incidence of ABPTE. Each post-mortem report was reviewed for gross examination, histology and toxicology findings. A literature review on COVID-19 autopsy findings, COVID-19 pathogenesis, thrombosis in COVID-19 and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection was also conducted using PubMed. Results Of the 6 asymptomatic COVID-19 deaths, 4 died as a result of ABPTE, 1 died of ischaemic and hypertensive cardiac disease caused by coronary artery disease and ventricular hypertrophy and the remaining case died of heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy caused by subendocardial fibrosis. There were 2 cases of bilateral pulmonary thromboembolism (BPTE) in 2019 out of 140 post-mortems. Excluding the 4 cases of ABPTE described already, there was 1 case of ABPTE in 2020 out of 156 post-mortems. A literature review on the pathogenesis of thrombosis in COVID-19 highlighted the significant role that the endothelium plays. Conclusions Massive pulmonary thromboembolism may be a significant cause of death in asymptomatic COVID-19 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard Keane
- School of Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Tony Dorman
- Department of Histopathology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
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12
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Caramaschi S, Kapp ME, Miller SE, Eisenberg R, Johnson J, Epperly G, Maiorana A, Silvestri G, Giannico GA. Histopathological findings and clinicopathologic correlation in COVID-19: a systematic review. Mod Pathol 2021; 34:1614-1633. [PMID: 34031537 PMCID: PMC8141548 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-021-00814-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has had devastating effects on global health and worldwide economy. Despite an initial reluctance to perform autopsies due to concerns for aerosolization of viral particles, a large number of autopsy studies published since May 2020 have shed light on the pathophysiology of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This review summarizes the histopathologic findings and clinicopathologic correlations from autopsies and biopsies performed in patients with COVID-19. PubMed and Medline (EBSCO and Ovid) were queried from June 4, 2020 to September 30, 2020 and histopathologic data from autopsy and biopsy studies were collected based on 2009 Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 58 studies reporting 662 patients were included. Demographic data, comorbidities at presentation, histopathologic findings, and virus detection strategies by organ system were collected. Diffuse alveolar damage, thromboembolism, and nonspecific shock injury in multiple organs were the main findings in this review. The pathologic findings emerging from autopsy and biopsy studies reviewed herein suggest that in addition to a direct viral effect in some organs, a unifying pathogenic mechanism for COVID-19 is ARDS with its known and characteristic inflammatory response, cytokine release, fever, inflammation, and generalized endothelial disturbance. This study supports the notion that autopsy studies are of utmost importance to our understanding of disease features and treatment effect to increase our knowledge of COVID-19 pathophysiology and contribute to more effective treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Caramaschi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia—AOU Policlinico of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Meghan E. Kapp
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Sara E. Miller
- Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Rosana Eisenberg
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Joyce Johnson
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | - Antonino Maiorana
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children and Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia—AOU Policlinico of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Guido Silvestri
- Emory Vaccine Center and Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Giovanna A. Giannico
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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13
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Henningsen MJ, Khatam-Lashgari A, Olsen KB, Jacobsen C, Brøchner CB, Banner J. Translational deep phenotyping of deaths related to the COVID-19 pandemic: protocol for a prospective observational autopsy study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e049083. [PMID: 34452963 PMCID: PMC8406463 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic is an international emergency with an extreme socioeconomic impact and a high mortality and disease burden. The COVID-19 outbreak is neither fully understood nor fully pictured. Autopsy studies can help understand the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and has already resulted in better treatment of patients. Structured and systematic autopsy of COVID-19-related deaths will enhance the mapping of pathophysiological pathways, not possible in the living. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to envision factors translationally for the purpose of disease prevention in this and future pandemics. This is the protocol for an autopsy study that offers an umbrella for deep and diverse investigations of COVID-19-related deaths, including a systematic investigation of 'long' COVID-19 by means of extensive and systematic tissue sampling. METHODS AND ANALYSIS A COVID-19-specific autopsy algorithm has been created to cover all cases undergoing clinical or forensic autopsy in Denmark. The algorithm describes advanced tissue sampling and a translational analytical follow-up for deep phenotyping. The translational approach covers registry data, postmortem imaging, gross autopsy findings, microscopic organ changes, postmortem toxicology, postmortem biochemical investigation, microbiological profiling and immunological status at the time of death, and future research projects covering genetics and epigenetics on an organ level. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study has been approved by the Regional Ethics Committee of the Region of Greater Copenhagen (No: H-20078436) and the Danish Data Protection Agency (No: 2002-54-1080). Next of kin gave informed consent to research. The study results will be published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER This study is purely observational and, as such, does not meet the criteria of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors for clinical trials; thus, there is no need for registration in a database of research trials, such as clinical trials. To facilitate cooperation in research, provide transparency on case recruitment for publications to come and to avoid unnecessary duplicate work, we nevertheless wish to publish our protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikkel Jon Henningsen
- Section of Forensic Pathology, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Apameh Khatam-Lashgari
- Section of Forensic Pathology, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristine Boisen Olsen
- Section of Forensic Pathology, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christina Jacobsen
- Section of Forensic Pathology, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Jytte Banner
- Section of Forensic Pathology, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
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14
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Maiese A, Manetti AC, La Russa R, Di Paolo M, Turillazzi E, Frati P, Fineschi V. Autopsy findings in COVID-19-related deaths: a literature review. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 2021; 17:279-296. [PMID: 33026628 PMCID: PMC7538370 DOI: 10.1007/s12024-020-00310-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although many clinical reports have been published, little is known about the pathological post-mortem findings from people who have died of the novel coronavirus disease. The need for postmortem information is urgent to improve patient management of mild and severe illness, and treatment strategies. The present systematic review was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review (PRISMA) standards. A systematic literature search and a critical review of the collected studies were conducted. An electronic search of PubMed, Science Direct Scopus, Google Scholar, and Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE) from database inception to June 2020 was performed. We found 28 scientific papers; the total amount of cases is 341. The major histological feature in the lung is diffuse alveolar damage with hyaline membrane formation, alongside microthrombi in small pulmonary vessels. It appears that there is a high incidence of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism among COVID-19 decedents, suggesting endothelial involvement, but more studies are needed. A uniform COVID-19 post-mortem diagnostic protocol has not yet been developed. In a time in which international collaboration is essential, standardized diagnostic criteria are fundamental requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniello Maiese
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, PI, Italy
| | - Alice Chiara Manetti
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, PI, Italy
| | - Raffaele La Russa
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161, Rome, RM, Italy
| | - Marco Di Paolo
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, PI, Italy
| | - Emanuela Turillazzi
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126, Pisa, PI, Italy
| | - Paola Frati
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161, Rome, RM, Italy
| | - Vittorio Fineschi
- Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161, Rome, RM, Italy.
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15
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Dimbath E, Maddipati V, Stahl J, Sewell K, Domire Z, George S, Vahdati A. Implications of microscale lung damage for COVID-19 pulmonary ventilation dynamics: A narrative review. Life Sci 2021; 274:119341. [PMID: 33716059 PMCID: PMC7946865 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic surges on as vast research is produced to study the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus and the disease state it induces. Still, little is known about the impact of COVID-19-induced microscale damage in the lung on global lung dynamics. This review summarizes the key histological features of SARS-CoV-2 infected alveoli and links the findings to structural tissue changes and surfactant dysfunction affecting tissue mechanical behavior similar to changes seen in other lung injury. Along with typical findings of diffuse alveolar damage affecting the interstitium of the alveolar walls and blood-gas barrier in the alveolar airspace, COVID-19 can cause extensive microangiopathy in alveolar capillaries that further contribute to mechanical changes in the tissues and may differentiate it from previously studied infectious lung injury. Understanding microlevel damage impact on tissue mechanics allows for better understanding of macroscale respiratory dynamics. Knowledge gained from studies into the relationship between microscale and macroscale lung mechanics can allow for optimized treatments to improve patient outcomes in case of COVID-19 and future respiratory-spread pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Dimbath
- Department of Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | | | - Jennifer Stahl
- Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Kerry Sewell
- Laupus Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Zachary Domire
- Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Stephanie George
- Department of Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Ali Vahdati
- Department of Engineering, College of Engineering and Technology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
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16
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Fahmy OH, Daas FM, Salunkhe V, Petrey JL, Cosar EF, Ramirez J, Akca O. Is Microthrombosis the Main Pathology in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Severity?-A Systematic Review of the Postmortem Pathologic Findings. Crit Care Explor 2021; 3:e0427. [PMID: 34036278 PMCID: PMC8140776 DOI: 10.1097/cce.0000000000000427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This systematic review attempts to retrieve and report the findings of postmortem studies including the histopathologic data of deceased coronavirus disease 2019 patients and to review the manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019-associated thrombotic pathologies reported in the recent literature. DATA SOURCES PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database, and Cochrane library between December 1, 2019, and August 26, 2020. STUDY SELECTION Investigators screened 360 unique references, retrieved published autopsy series, and report on the postmortem histopathologic information on patients who had died of coronavirus disease 2019. DATA EXTRACTION Investigators independently abstracted all available data including study design, participant demographics, key histopathologic findings, disease severity markers, duration of hospital stay, and cause of death. DATA SYNTHESIS From the 65 eligible studies, 691 total completed autopsies were included in evidence synthesis. Histopathologic evaluation of the lungs revealed presence of diffuse alveolar damage in 323 of 443 patients and pulmonary microthrombi in 242 of 326 patients. Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism were found in 41% and ~15%, respectively, of the cadavers examined for thromboembolic events. d-dimer levels were generally higher in patients with severe clinical course of coronavirus disease 2019. Plasma levels of ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein were higher in nonsurvivors when compared with survivors. Overall, microthrombi and extensive angiogenesis of lung vasculature were the most common pathologic findings in the lungs and microthrombi in most of the assessed organ-tissue. CONCLUSIONS Diffuse alveolar damage was the most predominant feature in the lungs of coronavirus disease 2019 patients who underwent postmortem assessment. Widespread pulmonary microthrombosis and extensive pulmonary angiogenesis, in addition to frequent pulmonary and extrapulmonary microthrombotic and thromboembolic findings in patients with coronavirus disease 2019, appear to be consistent with the disease-specific hypercoagulability. Further discovery efforts in assessing the link between coronavirus disease 2019, hypercoagulable state, and immunothrombosis are warranted. In the interim, increased attention to anticoagulant treatment approaches in coronavirus disease 2019 patients is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar H Fahmy
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY
- Center of Excellence for Research in Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY
| | - Farah M Daas
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY
- Center of Excellence for Research in Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY
| | - Vidyulata Salunkhe
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY
- Center of Excellence for Research in Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY
| | - Jessica L Petrey
- Kornhauser Health Sciences Library, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
| | - Ediz F Cosar
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA
| | - Julio Ramirez
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY
- Center of Excellence for Research in Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY
| | - Ozan Akca
- Departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY
- Comprehensive Stroke Clinical Research Program (CSCRP), University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY
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17
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Parra-Medina R, Herrera S, Mejia J. Systematic Review of Microthrombi in COVID-19 Autopsies. Acta Haematol 2021; 144:476-483. [PMID: 33873184 PMCID: PMC8089413 DOI: 10.1159/000515104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Histopathological analysis can provide additional clues in COVID-19 understanding. During the last year, autopsy reports have revealed that diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) is the most significant observed finding. The aim of this study is to review cases in the literature about COVID-19 autopsies that reported microthrombi in different organs. Methods We performed a systematic literature review in PubMed, Virtual Health Library (VHL), and Google Scholar. Results In total, 151 autopsies were included, and 91 cases presented microthrombi in the lung (73%), heart (11.2%), kidney (24%), and liver (16.3%). The age range was between 27 and 96 years. Males were 64.8%. The patients with microthrombi had more comorbidities such as arterial hypertension (62%), obesity or overweight (64%), diabetes mellitus type 2 (51%), and heart disease (53%). The most common histopathological changes found in patients with lung microthrombosis were DAD in exudative phase (78%), pulmonary embolism (59%), and lung infarct (81%). Presence of microthrombi was associated with arterial hypertension (p < 0.0001) and DAD in exudative and proliferative phases (p = 0.02). Discussion The analysis of these results shows that microthrombi in COVID-19 autopsies may be found in different organs and are more frequent in patients with comorbidities, pulmonary embolism, and lung infarct.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Parra-Medina
- Research Institute, Pathology Department, Fundación Univeristaria de Ciencias de la Salud, Bogotá, Colombia
- Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Pathology Department, Bogotá, Colombia
- * Rafael Parra-Medina,
| | | | - Jaime Mejia
- Instituto de Patologia Mejia Jimenez, Department of Pathology, Cali, Colombia
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18
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Mondello C, Roccuzzo S, Malfa O, Sapienza D, Gualniera P, Ventura Spagnolo E, Di Nunno N, Salerno M, Pomara C, Asmundo A. Pathological Findings in COVID-19 as a Tool to Define SARS-CoV-2 Pathogenesis. A Systematic Review. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:614586. [PMID: 33867981 PMCID: PMC8047201 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.614586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. COVID-19 still represents a worldwide health emergency, which causesa severe disease that has led to the death of many patients. The pathophysiological mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 determining the tissue damage is not clear and autopsycan be auseful tool to improve the knowledge of this infection and, thus, it can help achieve a timely diagnosis and develop an appropriate therapy. This is an overview of the main post-mortem findings reporting data on the infection effects on several organs. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the PubMed database searching for articles from 1 January to August 31, 2020. Thearticles were selected identifying words/concepts in the titles and/or abstracts that indicated the analysis of the morphological/pathological tissue injuries related to SARS-CoV-2 disease by several investigations. Results: A total of 63 articles were selected. The main investigated tissue was the lung showing a diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) frequently associated with pulmonary thrombotic microangiopathy. Inflammatory findings and vascular damage were observed in other organs such as heart, liver, kidney, brain, spleen, skin and adrenal gland. The immunohistochemical analysis showed tissue inflammatory cells infiltrates. The virus presence was detected by several investigations such as RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and electron microscope, showing the effect ofSARS-CoV-2not exclusively in the lung. Discussion: The evidence emerging from this review highlighted the importance of autopsy to provide a fundamental base in the process of understanding the consequences ofSARS-CoV-2 infection. COVID-19 is strictly related to a hyper inflammatory state that seems to start with DAD and immuno-thrombotic microangiopathy. Massive activation of the immune system and microvascular damage might also be responsible for indirect damage to other organs, even if the direct effect of the virus on these tissues cannot be excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Mondello
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Salvatore Roccuzzo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Orazio Malfa
- Institute of Legal Medicine and Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University “Magna Graecia”, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Daniela Sapienza
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Patrizia Gualniera
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Elvira Ventura Spagnolo
- Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Nunzio Di Nunno
- Department of History, Society and Studies on Humanity, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
| | - Monica Salerno
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Cristoforo Pomara
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Alessio Asmundo
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
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19
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Bullock HA, Goldsmith CS, Miller SE. Best practices for correctly identifying coronavirus by transmission electron microscopy. Kidney Int 2021; 99:824-827. [PMID: 33493525 PMCID: PMC7825881 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2021.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This guidance provides clear, concise strategies for identifying coronaviruses by transmission electron microscopy of ultrathin sections of tissues or infected tissue cultures. These include a description of virus morphology as well as cell organelles that can resemble viruses. Biochemical testing and caveats are discussed. Numerous references provide information for documentation and further study.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cynthia S Goldsmith
- Infectious Diseases Pathology Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sara E Miller
- Department of Pathology, Duke Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
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20
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Sessa F, Salerno M, Pomara C. Autopsy Tool in Unknown Diseases: The Experience with Coronaviruses (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2). MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2021; 57:309. [PMID: 33806100 PMCID: PMC8064502 DOI: 10.3390/medicina57040309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In the last two decades, three unknown pathogens have caused outbreaks, generating severe global health concerns. In 2003, after nucleic acid genotyping, a new virus was named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). After nine years, another coronavirus emerged in the middle east and was named MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus). Finally, in December 2019, a new unknown coronavirus was isolated from a cluster of patients and was named SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019). This review aims to propose a complete overview of autopsy in the three coronaviruses over the past two decades, showing its pivotal role in the management of unknown diseases. A total of 116 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria: 14 studies were collected concerning SARS-CoV (87 autopsy reports, from Asian and American countries), 2 studies for MERS-CoV (2 autopsy reports, from Middle-East Asian countries), and 100 studies on SARS-CoV-2 (930 autopsy reports). Analyzing the data obtained on COVID-19, based on the country criterion, a large number of post-mortem investigation were performed in European countries (580 reports), followed by American countries (251 reports). It is interesting to note that no data were found from the Oceanic countries, maybe because of the minor involvement of the outbreak. In all cases, autopsy provided much information about each unknown coronavirus. Despite advanced technologies in the diagnostic fields, to date, autopsy remains the gold standard method to understand the biological features and the pathogenesis of unknown infections, especially when awareness of a pathogen is restricted and the impact on the healthcare system is substantial. The knowledge gained through this technique may positively influence therapeutic strategies, ultimately reducing mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Sessa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy
| | - Monica Salerno
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy;
| | - Cristoforo Pomara
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Catania, 95121 Catania, Italy;
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21
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Arslan MN, Büyük Y, Ziyade N, Elgörmüş N, Şirin G, Çoban İ, Gökşen ME, Daş T, Akçay A. COVID-19 autopsies of Istanbul. Ir J Med Sci 2021; 191:529-541. [PMID: 33755916 PMCID: PMC7985574 DOI: 10.1007/s11845-021-02602-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Background/aims The aim of this study is to share autopsy findings of COVID-19-positive cases and autopsy algorithms for safely handling of suspicious bodies during this pandemic. Methods COVID-19-positive cases of Istanbul Morgue Department were retrospectively analyzed. Sampling indications for PCR tests in suspicious deaths, macroscopic and microscopic findings obtained in cases with positive PCR tests were evaluated. Results In the morgue department, 345(25.8%) of overall 1336 autopsy cases were tested for COVID-19. PCR test was found positive in 26 cases. Limited autopsy procedure was performed in 7 cases, while the cause of death was determined by external examination in the remaining 19 cases. Male-to-female ratio was found 3.3:1 and mean age was 60.0 ± 13.6 among all PCR-positive cases. Cause of death was determined as viral pneumonia in fully autopsied cases. Most common findings were sticky gelatinous fluid in cavities and firm and swollen lungs, varying degrees of consolidation. In microscopy, diffuse alveolar epithelial damage, type-II pneumocyte hyperplasia, hyaline membrane formation, fibrinous exudate, and fibrinous plaques in the alveoli were the most common findings. Conclusions In COVID-19 autopsies, pulmonary findings were found to be prominent and the main pathology was pneumonia. Older age and findings of chronic diseases indicate that the cases were in the multirisk group in terms of COVID-19 mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murat Nihat Arslan
- Istanbul Morgue Department, Council of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | | | - Nihan Ziyade
- Postmortem Microbiology Laboratory, Istanbul Morgue Department, Council of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Neval Elgörmüş
- Postmortem Microbiology Laboratory, Istanbul Morgue Department, Council of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gözde Şirin
- Autopsy Unit, Istanbul Morgue Department, Council of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - İsmail Çoban
- Autopsy Unit, Istanbul Morgue Department, Council of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Muhammed Emin Gökşen
- Autopsy Unit, Istanbul Morgue Department, Council of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Taner Daş
- Histopathology Unit, Istanbul Morgue Department, Council of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Arzu Akçay
- Pathology Department, Gaziosmanpaşa Hospital Yeniyüzyıl University, Istanbul, Turkey
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22
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Henrina J, Santosa Putra IC, Cahyadi I, Lawrensia S, Hadi Gunawan HF, Cahyadi A, Franke J, Suciadi LP. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of venous thromboembolism in patients hospitalized for COVID-19: Systematic review and meta-analysis. THROMBOSIS UPDATE 2021; 2:100037. [PMID: 38620815 PMCID: PMC7857988 DOI: 10.1016/j.tru.2021.100037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Venous thromboembolism is prevalent in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Through systematic review and meta-analysis, we have investigated the differences in clinical characteristics and outcome of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with (+) and without (-) venous thromboembolism (VTE). 45 studies with a total of 8859 patients were included in the qualitative synthesis. Subsequently, 38 studies with a total of 7847 patients, were quantitatively analyzed. There was no mortality difference between the VTE (-) and VTE (+) hospitalized COVID-19 patients (RR1.32 (0.97, 1.79); 0.07; I2 64%, p < 0.001). Patients with VTE (+) were more likely to get admitted to the intensive care unit (RR1.77 (1.26, 2.50); p < 0.001; I2 63%, p = 0.03) and mechanically ventilated (RR 2.35 (1.22, 4.53); p = 0.01; I2 88%, p < 0.001). Moreover, male gender (RR 1.19 (1.14,1.24), p < 0.001; I2 0%, p = 0.68), increased the risk of VTE. Regarding patients lab values', VTE (+) was significantly associated with higher white blood cell, neutrophil count, D-Dimer, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and C-reactive protein (CRP), along with prolonged prothrombin time. On the contrary, VTE (+) was associated with lower albumin and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). This findings provide the initial framework for risk stratification of hospitalized COVID-19 patients with VTE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sherly Lawrensia
- School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, Jl. Pluit Raya No.2, RT.21/RW.8, Penjaringan, Kec. Penjaringan, Kota Jakarta Utara, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta, 14440, Indonesia
| | | | - Alius Cahyadi
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia/ Atma Jaya Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
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23
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Analyses for the presence of SARS-CoV‑2 in the tissues of COVID-19 patients is important in order to improve our understanding of the disease pathophysiology for interpretation of diagnostic histopathological findings in autopsies, biopsies, or surgical specimens and to assess the potential for occupational infectious hazard. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this review we identified 136 published studies in PubMed's curated literature database LitCovid on SARS-CoV‑2 detection methods in tissues and evaluated them regarding sources of error, specificity, and sensitivity of the methods, taking into account our own experience. RESULTS Currently, no sufficiently specific histomorphological alterations or diagnostic features for COVID-19 are known. Therefore, three approaches for SARS-CoV‑2 detection are used: RNA, proteins/antigens, or morphological detection by electron microscopy. In the preanalytical phase, the dominant source of error is tissue quality, especially the different intervals between sample collection and processing or fixation (and its duration) and specifically the interval between death and sample collection in autopsies. However, this information is found in less than half of the studies (e.g., in only 42% of autopsy studies). Our own experience and first studies prove the significantly higher sensitivity and specificity of RNA-based detection methods compared to antigen or protein detection by immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence. Detection by electron microscopy is time consuming and difficult to interpret. CONCLUSIONS Different methods are available for the detection of SARS-CoV‑2 in tissue. Currently, RNA detection by RT-PCR is the method of choice. However, extensive validation studies and method harmonization are not available and are absolutely necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia von Stillfried
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinik der RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Deutschland
| | - Peter Boor
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinik der RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Deutschland.
- Medizinische Klinik II (Nephrologie und Immunologie), Universitätsklinik der RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Deutschland.
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24
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Clancy CJ, Schwartz IS, Kula B, Nguyen MH. Bacterial Superinfections Among Persons With Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Comprehensive Review of Data From Postmortem Studies. Open Forum Infect Dis 2021; 8:ofab065. [PMID: 33732753 PMCID: PMC7928570 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofab065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limited clinical data suggest a ~16% prevalence of bacterial superinfections among critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS We reviewed postmortem studies of patients with COVID-19 published in English through September 26, 2020, for histopathologic findings consistent with bacterial lung infections. RESULTS Worldwide, 621 patients from 75 studies were included. The quality of data was uneven, likely because identifying superinfections was not a major objective in 96% (72/75) of studies. Histopathology consistent with a potential lung superinfection was reported in 32% (200/621) of patients (22-96 years old; 66% men). Types of infections were pneumonia (95%), abscesses or empyema (3.5%), and septic emboli (1.5%). Seventy-three percent of pneumonias were focal rather than diffuse. The predominant histopathologic findings were intra-alveolar neutrophilic infiltrations that were distinct from those typical of COVID-19-associated diffuse alveolar damage. In studies with available data, 79% of patients received antimicrobial treatment; the most common agents were beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitors (48%), macrolides (16%), cephalosoprins (12%), and carbapenems (6%). Superinfections were proven by direct visualization or recovery of bacteria in 25.5% (51/200) of potential cases and 8% of all patients in postmortem studies. In rank order, pathogens included Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Lung superinfections were the cause of death in 16% of potential cases and 3% of all patients with COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS Potential bacterial lung superinfections were evident at postmortem examination in 32% of persons who died with COVID-19 (proven, 8%; possible, 24%), but they were uncommonly the cause of death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelius J Clancy
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ilan S Schwartz
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Brittany Kula
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - M Hong Nguyen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Khatam-Lashgari A, Henningsen MJ, Olsen KB, Jacobsen C, Hasselby JP, Colville-Ebeling B, Banner J. Autopsies in pandemics - a perspective on barriers and benefits. Is it time for a revival? APMIS 2021; 129:324-339. [PMID: 33645838 PMCID: PMC8013917 DOI: 10.1111/apm.13111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Influenza virus and coronavirus pandemics regularly sweep the globe, at great cost of health and economy. Our aim was to conduct a PubMed search for autopsy studies on influenza and coronavirus to investigate the contribution of autopsies during pandemics, focussing on autopsy methods and procedures and the role of autopsy findings in pandemics. The retrieved autopsy studies generally relied on microscopy, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunostaining and electron microscopy. Most were small and reported on lung effects, including diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), pneumonia and tracheobronchitis. Antibiotic therapy has diminished a role for bacterial pneumonia, whereas obesity is an emerging risk factor. Autopsy studies have provided new insights into coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) treatments like anti‐coagulative therapy. Unfortunately, autopsies during pandemics are hampered by lack of guidelines, facilities and expertise for handling potentially infectious corpses and by widely varying recommendations for personal protective equipment and procedures. The Department of Forensic Pathology, at the Forensic Institute, at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark has, in collaboration with the Department of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, initiated a prospective observational study on COVID‐19‐related deaths encompassing postmortem imaging, standardized autopsy procedures/reporting and extensive tissue sampling for histological, chemical, microbiological and genetic analysis. The study involves a diverse array of research groups at the University of Copenhagen, and the clinical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apameh Khatam-Lashgari
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Pathology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Jon Henningsen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Pathology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristine Boisen Olsen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Pathology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christina Jacobsen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Pathology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jane Preuss Hasselby
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Copenhagen (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bonnie Colville-Ebeling
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Copenhagen (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jytte Banner
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Section of Forensic Pathology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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26
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Bullock HA, Goldsmith CS, Zaki SR, Martines RB, Miller SE. Difficulties in Differentiating Coronaviruses from Subcellular Structures in Human Tissues by Electron Microscopy. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 27:1023-1031. [PMID: 33600302 PMCID: PMC8007326 DOI: 10.3201/eid2704.204337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Efforts to combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have placed a renewed focus on the use of transmission electron microscopy for identifying coronavirus in tissues. In attempts to attribute pathology of COVID-19 patients directly to tissue damage caused by SARS-CoV-2, investigators have inaccurately reported subcellular structures, including coated vesicles, multivesicular bodies, and vesiculating rough endoplasmic reticulum, as coronavirus particles. We describe morphologic features of coronavirus that distinguish it from subcellular structures, including particle size range (60–140 nm), intracellular particle location within membrane-bound vacuoles, and a nucleocapsid appearing in cross section as dense dots (6–12 nm) within the particles. In addition, although the characteristic spikes of coronaviruses may be visible on the virus surface, especially on extracellular particles, they are less evident in thin sections than in negative stain preparations.
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27
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Zhang Y, Han K, Du C, Li R, Liu J, Zeng H, Zhu L, Li A. Carboxypeptidase B blocks ex vivo activation of the anaphylatoxin-neutrophil extracellular trap axis in neutrophils from COVID-19 patients. CRITICAL CARE : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE CRITICAL CARE FORUM 2021; 25:51. [PMID: 33557911 PMCID: PMC7868871 DOI: 10.1186/s13054-021-03482-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Thrombosis and coagulopathy are highly prevalent in critically ill patients with COVID-19 and increase the risk of death. Immunothrombosis has recently been demonstrated to contribute to the thrombotic events in COVID-19 patients with coagulopathy. As the primary components of immunothrombosis, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) could be induced by complement cascade components and other proinflammatory mediators. We aimed to explore the clinical roles of NETs and the regulation of complement on the NET formation in COVID-19. Methods We recruited 135 COVID-19 patients and measured plasma levels of C5, C3, cell-free DNA and myeloperoxidase (MPO)-DNA. Besides, the formation of NETs was detected by immunofluorescent staining and the cytotoxicity to vascular endothelial HUVEC cells was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. Results We found that the plasma levels of complements C3 and MPO-DNA were positively related to coagulation indicator fibrin(-ogen) degradation products (C3: r = 0.300, p = 0.005; MPO-DNA: r = 0.316, p = 0.002) in COVID-19 patients. Besides, C3 was positively related to direct bilirubin (r = 0.303, p = 0.004) and total bilirubin (r = 0.304, p = 0.005), MPO-DNA was positively related to lactate dehydrogenase (r = 0.306, p = 0.003) and creatine kinase (r = 0.308, p = 0.004). By using anti-C3a and anti-C5a antibodies, we revealed that the complement component anaphylatoxins in the plasma of COVID-19 patients strongly induced NET formation. The pathological effect of the anaphylatoxin-NET axis on the damage of vascular endothelial cells could be relieved by recombinant carboxypeptidase B (CPB), a stable homolog of enzyme CPB2 which can degrade anaphylatoxins to inactive products. Conclusions Over-activation in anaphylatoxin-NET axis plays a pathological role in COVID-19. Early intervention in anaphylatoxins might help prevent thrombosis and disease progression in COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China
| | - Kai Han
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China
| | - Chunjing Du
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China
| | - Rui Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China
| | - Jingyuan Liu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China
| | - Hui Zeng
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China.
| | - Liuluan Zhu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China.
| | - Ang Li
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100015, China.
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28
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Giorgetti A, Orazietti V, Busardò FP, Pirani F, Giorgetti R. Died with or Died of? Development and Testing of a SARS CoV-2 Significance Score to Assess the Role of COVID-19 in the Deaths of Affected Patients. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:190. [PMID: 33525705 PMCID: PMC7912253 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11020190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Since December 2019, a new form of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, has spread from China to the whole word, raising concerns regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) endangering public health and life. Over 1.5 million deaths related with COVID-19 have been recorded worldwide, with wide variations among countries affected by the pandemic and continuously growing numbers. The aim of this paper was to provide an overview of the literature cases of deaths involving COVID-19 and to evaluate the application of the COVID-19 Significance Score (CSS) in the classification of SARS CoV-2-related fatalities, comparing it with the Hamburg rating scale. The results obtained allowed us to highlight that CSS used after a complete accurate post-mortem examination, coupled to the retrieval of in vivo data, post-mortem radiology, histology and toxicology, as well as to additional required analyses (e.g., electronic microscopy) is a useful and concise tool in the assessment of the cause of death and the role played by this virus. A shared use of this scale might hopefully lower the inhomogeneities in forensic evaluation of SARS CoV-2-related fatalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Giorgetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Unit of Legal Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Irnerio 49, 40126 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Vasco Orazietti
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University “Politecnica delle Marche” of Ancona, Via Conca 71, 60126 Ancona, Italy; (V.O.); (F.P.B.); (R.G.)
| | - Francesco Paolo Busardò
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University “Politecnica delle Marche” of Ancona, Via Conca 71, 60126 Ancona, Italy; (V.O.); (F.P.B.); (R.G.)
| | - Filippo Pirani
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University “Politecnica delle Marche” of Ancona, Via Conca 71, 60126 Ancona, Italy; (V.O.); (F.P.B.); (R.G.)
| | - Raffaele Giorgetti
- Department of Excellence of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, University “Politecnica delle Marche” of Ancona, Via Conca 71, 60126 Ancona, Italy; (V.O.); (F.P.B.); (R.G.)
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29
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Hanff TC, Mohareb AM, Giri J, Cohen JB, Chirinos JA. Thrombosis in COVID-19. Am J Hematol 2020; 95:1578-1589. [PMID: 32857878 PMCID: PMC7674272 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.25982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Thrombotic complications are frequent in COVID-19 and contribute significantly to mortality and morbidity. We review several mechanisms of hypercoagulability in sepsis that may be upregulated in COVID-19. These include immune-mediated thrombotic mechanisms, complement activation, macrophage activation syndrome, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, hyperferritinemia, and renin-angiotensin system dysregulation. We highlight biomarkers within each pathway with potential prognostic value in COVID-19. Lastly, recent observational studies have evaluated a role for the expanded use of therapeutic anticoagulation in COVID-19. We review strengths and weaknesses of these studies, and we also discuss the hypothetical benefit and anticipated challenges of fibrinolytic therapy in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas C. Hanff
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Amir M. Mohareb
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Jay Giri
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jordana B. Cohen
- Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Julio A. Chirinos
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
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30
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Burkhard-Koren NM, Haberecker M, Maccio U, Ruschitzka F, Schuepbach RA, Zinkernagel AS, Hardmeier T, Varga Z, Moch H. Higher prevalence of pulmonary macrothrombi in SARS-CoV-2 than in influenza A: autopsy results from 'Spanish flu' 1918/1919 in Switzerland to Coronavirus disease 2019. JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY CLINICAL RESEARCH 2020; 7:135-143. [PMID: 33185036 PMCID: PMC7869934 DOI: 10.1002/cjp2.189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Similar to the influenza A pandemic in 1918/1919, the new Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has spread globally. The causes of death in COVID‐19 are frequently compared to a seasonal influenza outbreak. Complete COVID‐19 autopsy studies were almost non‐existent in the first months of the outbreak and are still rare with respect to the number of deaths. It has been recently reported that capillary microthrombi are significantly more prevalent in patients with COVID‐19 than in patients with influenza A. To date, the contribution of macrothrombi, i.e. visible thrombi in pulmonary arteries, to the death of patients with influenza A in comparison to COVID‐19 remains unaddressed. Here, we report autopsy findings in 411 patients who died from the ‘Spanish’ influenza A pandemic between May 1918 and April 1919 at the University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland. We compare these results with influenza A autopsies from 2009 to 2020, other influenza A autopsy series and all COVID‐19 autopsies published to date. No descriptions of any macroscopic thromboembolic events were mentioned in influenza A autopsy reports. In 75 published COVID‐19 autopsies, pulmonary artery thrombosis/embolism was reported in 36%. The direct comparison of macroscopic autopsy findings suggests a significantly greater degree of grossly visible pulmonary macrothrombi in patients with COVID‐19 in comparison to influenza A autopsies even though most patients received empiric thromboprophylaxis. This is consistent with the concept of a SARS‐related de novo coagulopathy with generalised in situ clot formation, which could explain the high incidence of pulmonary thrombosis/embolism with or without underlying deep vein thrombosis and in the absence of a history of venous thromboembolic events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martina Haberecker
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Umberto Maccio
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Frank Ruschitzka
- Department of Cardiology, University Heart Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Reto A Schuepbach
- Institute for Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Thomas Hardmeier
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zsuzsanna Varga
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Holger Moch
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Vasquez-Bonilla WO, Orozco R, Argueta V, Sierra M, Zambrano LI, Muñoz-Lara F, López-Molina DS, Arteaga-Livias K, Grimes Z, Bryce C, Paniz-Mondolfi A, Rodríguez-Morales AJ. A review of the main histopathological findings in coronavirus disease 2019. Hum Pathol 2020; 105:74-83. [PMID: 32750378 PMCID: PMC7395947 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2020.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, has been declared by the World Health Organization as an emerging public health problem of global importance and classified as a pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in diverse, multiorgan pathology, the most significant being in the lungs (diffuse alveolar damage in its different phases, microthrombi, bronchopneumonia, necrotizing bronchiolitis, viral pneumonia), heart (lymphocytic myocarditis), kidney (acute tubular injury), central nervous system (microthrombi, ischemic necrosis, acute hemorrhagic infarction, congestion, and vascular edema), lymph nodes (hemophagocytosis and histiocytosis), bone marrow (hemophagocytosis), and vasculature (deep vein thrombosis). An understanding of the spectrum and frequency of histologic findings in COVID-19 is essential for gaining a better understanding of disease pathophysiology and its ongoing impact on public health. To this end, we conducted a systematic meta-analysis of histopathologic observations to date and review the reported findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter O Vasquez-Bonilla
- Department of Pathology, Hospital General San Juan de Dios, Guatemala City (Ciudad de Guatemala), 01001, Guatemala; Latin American Network of Coronavirus Disease 2019-COVID-19 Research (LANCOVID-19), Pereira, Risaralda, 660003, Colombia
| | - Roberto Orozco
- Department of Pathology, Hospital General San Juan de Dios, Guatemala City (Ciudad de Guatemala), 01001, Guatemala
| | - Víctor Argueta
- Department of Pathology, Hospital General San Juan de Dios, Guatemala City (Ciudad de Guatemala), 01001, Guatemala
| | - Manuel Sierra
- Central American Technological University, Francisco Morazán, Distrito Central, Tegucigalpa, 11101 Honduras
| | - Lysien I Zambrano
- Latin American Network of Coronavirus Disease 2019-COVID-19 Research (LANCOVID-19), Pereira, Risaralda, 660003, Colombia; Department of Morphological Sciences, School of Medical, Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH), Tegucigalpa, 11101, Honduras
| | - Fausto Muñoz-Lara
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Escuela, Tegucigalpa, 11101, Honduras; Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical, Sciences, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH), Tegucigalpa, 11101, Honduras
| | - Dennis Salomón López-Molina
- Institute Pasteur, Paris, 75008, France; Health Biology: Microbiology and Immunology, Faculté de Sciences, Université de Montpellier, 34000, France
| | - Kovy Arteaga-Livias
- Latin American Network of Coronavirus Disease 2019-COVID-19 Research (LANCOVID-19), Pereira, Risaralda, 660003, Colombia; Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán, Huánuco, 10160, Peru; Master of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, 15046, Peru
| | - Zachary Grimes
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 15046, USA
| | - Clare Bryce
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 15046, USA
| | - Alberto Paniz-Mondolfi
- Latin American Network of Coronavirus Disease 2019-COVID-19 Research (LANCOVID-19), Pereira, Risaralda, 660003, Colombia; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 15046, USA; Laboratorio de Señalización Celular y Bioquímica de Parásitos, Instituto de Estudios Avanzados (IDEA), Caracas, Caracas, 1020, Venezuela; Academia Nacional de Medicina, Caracas, 1010, Venezuela; Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas IDB / Incubadora Venezolana de la Ciencia, Cabudare, Edo. Lara, 3023, Venezuela
| | - Alfonso J Rodríguez-Morales
- Latin American Network of Coronavirus Disease 2019-COVID-19 Research (LANCOVID-19), Pereira, Risaralda, 660003, Colombia; Master of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, 15046, Peru; Public Health and Infection Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Tecnologica de Pereira, Pereira, Risaralda, 660001, Colombia; Grupo de Investigación Biomedicina, Faculty of Medicine, Fundación Universitaria Autónoma de Las Americas, Pereira, Risaralda, 660003, Colombia.
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Grosse C, Grosse A, Salzer HJF, Dünser MW, Motz R, Langer R. Analysis of cardiopulmonary findings in COVID-19 fatalities: High incidence of pulmonary artery thrombi and acute suppurative bronchopneumonia. Cardiovasc Pathol 2020; 49:107263. [PMID: 32784110 PMCID: PMC7365076 DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2020.107263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Since its recognition in December 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by SARS-CoV-2 has rapidly spread globally causing a pandemic that represents the greatest medical challenge in decades. The aim of the study was to evaluate the spectrum of cardiopulmonary pathology of COVID-19 based on (non-minimal invasive) autopsies performed on 14 COVID-19 decedents. Bilateral diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) was found in all patients. Superimposed acute bronchopneumonia was present in 11 of 14 (78.6%) patients and was considered the major cause of death in 2 patients. A key finding was the presence of thrombotic/thromboembolic vascular occlusions. We classified 5 types of pulmonary thrombi: 1. capillary microthrombi (11/14, 78.6%); 2. partially organized thrombi in mid-sized pulmonary arteries with complete vessel occlusion; 3. non-organized thrombi in mid-sized pulmonary arteries that did not completely fill out the vessel lumen and probably represented thromboemboli rather than thrombosis; 4. bone marrow emboli (1/14, 7.1%); and 5. septic pulmonary thromboemboli (1/14, 7.1%). Pulmonary thrombi in mid-sized arteries were noted in 5 of 14 (35.7%) patients, causing pulmonary infarction and/or pulmonary hemorrhage. All patients had evidence of chronic cardiac disease, including myocardial hypertrophy (13/14, 92.9%), mild to marked coronary artery atherosclerosis (14/14, 100%) and focal myocardial fibrosis (3/14, 21.4%). Acute myocardial infarction was found as concurrent cause of death in 3 (21.4%) patients, and significant cardiac hypertrophy (heart weight 750 g) was present in 1 (7.1%) patient with ATTR-positive cardiac amyloidosis. The autopsy findings confirm that COVID-19 is a systemic disease, with major involvement of the lungs, that increases the risk of cardiac and vascular complications including acute myocardial injury and thrombotic/thromboembolic events. Secondary acute bronchopneumonia is a common complication in patients with COVID-19 and may be the major cause of death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Grosse
- Institute of Pathology and Microbiology, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040 Linz, Austria.
| | - Alexandra Grosse
- Institute of Pathology and Microbiology, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Helmut J F Salzer
- Department of Pulmonology, Kepler University Hospital, Krankenhausstrasse 9, 4041 Linz, Austria
| | - Martin W Dünser
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Kepler University Hospital and Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Reinhard Motz
- Institute of Pathology and Microbiology, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
| | - Rupert Langer
- Institute of Pathology and Microbiology, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Altenberger Strasse 69, 4040 Linz, Austria
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Halushka MK, Vander Heide RS. Myocarditis is rare in COVID-19 autopsies: cardiovascular findings across 277 postmortem examinations. Cardiovasc Pathol 2020; 50:107300. [PMID: 33132119 PMCID: PMC7583586 DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2020.107300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, the result of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2, is a major cause of worldwide mortality with a significant cardiovascular component. While a number of different cardiovascular histopathologies have been reported at postmortem examination, their incidence is unknown, due to limited numbers of cases in any given study. A literature review was performed identifying 277 autopsied hearts across 22 separate publications of COVID-19 positive patients. The median age of the autopsy cohort was 75 and 97.6% had one or more comorbidities. Initial review of the data indicate that myocarditis was present in 20 hearts (7.2%); however, closer examination of additional reported information revealed that most cases were likely not functionally significant and the true prevalence of myocarditis is likely much lower (<2%). At least one acute, potentially COVID-19-related cardiovascular histopathologic finding, such as macro or microvascular thrombi, inflammation, or intraluminal megakaryocytes, was reported in 47.8% of cases. Significant differences in reporting of histopathologic findings occurred between studies indicating strong biases in observations and the need for more consistency in reporting. In conclusion, across 277 cases, COVID-19-related cardiac histopathological findings, are common, while myocarditis is rare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc K Halushka
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
| | - Richard S Vander Heide
- Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA
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Sanguedolce F, Zanelli M, Ascani S, Zizzo M, Tortorella S, Soriano A, Cavazza A, Sollitto F, Loizzi D. SARS-CoV-2-related lung pathology: macroscopic and histologic features and their clinical implications. Panminerva Med 2020; 64:80-95. [PMID: 33073555 DOI: 10.23736/s0031-0808.20.04157-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The ongoing global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been posing challenges to proper patients' management. Lungs are the first, and often the most affected organ by SARS-CoV-2; viral infection involves and damages both epithelial and vascular compartments, sometimes leading to severe and even fatal acute respiratory distress syndrome. Histopathological findings, mainly from postmortem examination of COVID-19 deceased patients, have been increasingly published in the last few months, helping to elucidate the sequence of events resulting in organ injury, and the complex multifactorial pathogenesis of this novel disease. A multidisciplinary approach to autopsy, including light microscopy examination along with the detection of viral proteins and/or RNA in tissue samples through ancillary techniques, provided crucial information on the mechanisms underlying the often-heterogeneous clinical picture of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Sanguedolce
- Pathology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Ospedali Riuniti di Foggia, Foggia, Italy -
| | - Magda Zanelli
- Pathology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Stefano Ascani
- Pathology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera S. Maria di Terni, University of Perugia, Terni, Italy
| | - Maurizio Zizzo
- Surgical Oncology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy.,Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Simona Tortorella
- Pathology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Ospedali Riuniti di Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Alessandra Soriano
- Gastroenterology, Division and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Alberto Cavazza
- Pathology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | | | - Domenico Loizzi
- Institute of Thoracic Surgery, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
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Pandey P, Agarwal S, Rajkumar. Lung Pathology in COVID-19: A Systematic Review. Int J Appl Basic Med Res 2020; 10:226-233. [PMID: 33376694 PMCID: PMC7758785 DOI: 10.4103/ijabmr.ijabmr_381_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sparse literature is available regarding autopsy findings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) despite high mortality due to its highly contagious nature and lack of robust infrastructure for appropriate handling of the infected cases. Based on clinical findings and various diagnostic tests, it is evident that it holds the potential to affect multiple organ systems of the body preferably lungs and immune and coagulation systems. Cytokine storm-induced thrombotic complication such as disseminated intravascular coagulation is a significant feature in severe cases of COVID-19. This review captures the current information on lung histopathology in COVID-19 infection and severe respiratory failure. In COVID-19, lungs are affected bilaterally, become edematous and red/tan mottled to maroon in color with firm consistency. Distinct parenchymal changes, firm thrombi in the peripheral pulmonary vessels along with diffuse alveolar damage, have been the most consistent feature of COVID-19-related lung pathology. Electron microscopy has also been used to demonstrate viral particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinki Pandey
- Department of Pathology, UP University of Medical Sciences, Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Savita Agarwal
- Department of Pathology, UP University of Medical Sciences, Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rajkumar
- Department of Neurosurgery, UP University of Medical Sciences, Etawah, Uttar Pradesh, India
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36
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Buja LM, Wolf DA, Zhao B, Akkanti B, McDonald M, Lelenwa L, Reilly N, Ottaviani G, Elghetany MT, Trujillo DO, Aisenberg GM, Madjid M, Kar B. The emerging spectrum of cardiopulmonary pathology of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): Report of 3 autopsies from Houston, Texas, and review of autopsy findings from other United States cities. Cardiovasc Pathol 2020; 48:107233. [PMID: 32434133 PMCID: PMC7204762 DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2020.107233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 272] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This paper collates the pathological findings from initial published autopsy reports on 23 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from 5 centers in the United States of America, including 3 cases from Houston, Texas. Findings confirm that COVID-19 is a systemic disease with major involvement of the lungs and heart. Acute COVID-19 pneumonia has features of a distinctive acute interstitial pneumonia with a diffuse alveolar damage component, coupled with microvascular involvement with intra- and extravascular fibrin deposition and intravascular trapping of neutrophils, and, frequently, with formation of microthombi in arterioles. Major pulmonary thromboemboli with pulmonary infarcts and/or hemorrhage occurred in 5 of the 23 patients. Two of the Houston cases had interstitial pneumonia with diffuse alveolar damage pattern. One of the Houston cases had multiple bilateral segmental pulmonary thromboemboli with infarcts and hemorrhages coupled with, in nonhemorrhagic areas, a distinctive interstitial lymphocytic pneumonitis with intra-alveolar fibrin deposits and no hyaline membranes, possibly representing a transition form to acute fibrinous and organizing pneumonia. Multifocal acute injury of cardiac myocytes was frequently observed. Lymphocytic myocarditis was reported in 1 case. In addition to major pulmonary pathology, the 3 Houston cases had evidence of lymphocytic pericarditis, multifocal acute injury of cardiomyocytes without inflammatory cellular infiltrates, depletion of splenic white pulp, focal hepatocellular degeneration and rare glomerular capillary thrombosis. Each had evidence of chronic cardiac disease: hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (420 g heart), dilated cardiomyopathy (1070 g heart), and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (670 g heart). All 3 subjects were obese (BMIs of 33.8, 51.65, and 35.2 Kg/m2). Overall, the autopsy findings support the concept that the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19 disease involves direct viral-induced injury of multiple organs, including heart and lungs, coupled with the consequences of a procoagulant state with coagulopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Maximilian Buja
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, USA.
| | - Dwayne A Wolf
- Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Bihong Zhao
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Bindu Akkanti
- Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, USA; Center for Advanced Cardiopulmonary Therapies and Transplantation, McGovern Medical School and Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Michelle McDonald
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Laura Lelenwa
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Noah Reilly
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Giulia Ottaviani
- "Lino Rossi" Research Center for the Study and Prevention of Unexpected Perinatal Death and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - M Tarek Elghetany
- Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Childrens Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel Ocazionez Trujillo
- Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Gabriel M Aisenberg
- Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, USA; Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, Harris Health, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mohammad Madjid
- Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Biswajit Kar
- Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, USA; Center for Advanced Cardiopulmonary Therapies and Transplantation, McGovern Medical School and Memorial Hermann Hospital-Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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37
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Calabrese F, Pezzuto F, Fortarezza F, Hofman P, Kern I, Panizo A, von der Thüsen J, Timofeev S, Gorkiewicz G, Lunardi F. Pulmonary pathology and COVID-19: lessons from autopsy. The experience of European Pulmonary Pathologists. Virchows Arch 2020; 477:359-372. [PMID: 32642842 PMCID: PMC7343579 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-020-02886-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Since its initial recognition in December 2019, Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has quickly spread to a pandemic infectious disease. The causative agent has been recognized as a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), primarily affecting the respiratory tract. To date, no vaccines are available nor any specific treatment. To limit the number of infections, strict directives have been issued by governments that have been translated into equally rigorous guidelines notably for post-mortem examinations by international and national scientific societies. The recommendations for biosafety control required during specimen collection and handling have strongly limited the practice of autopsies of the COVID-19 patients to a few adequate laboratories. A full pathological examination has always been considered an important tool to better understand the pathophysiology of diseases, especially when the knowledge of an emerging disorder is limited and the impact on the healthcare system is significant. The first evidence of diffuse alveolar damage in the context of an acute respiratory distress syndrome has now been joined by the latest findings that report a more complex scenario in COVID-19, including a vascular involvement and a wide spectrum of associated pathologies. Ancillary tools such as electron microscopy and molecular biology used on autoptic tissue samples from autopsy are also significantly contributing to confirm and/or identify new aspects useful for a deeper knowledge of the pathogenetic mechanisms. This article will review and summarize the pathological findings described in COVID-19 until now, chiefly focusing on the respiratory tract, highlighting the importance of autopsy towards a better knowledge of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiorella Calabrese
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova Medical School, Via A. Gabelli 61, 35121, Padova, Italy.
| | - Federica Pezzuto
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova Medical School, Via A. Gabelli 61, 35121, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesco Fortarezza
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova Medical School, Via A. Gabelli 61, 35121, Padova, Italy
| | - Paul Hofman
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, FHU OncoAge, Biobank BB-0033-00025, University Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Izidor Kern
- University Clinic of Respiratory and Allergic Diseases, Golnik, Slovenia
| | - Angel Panizo
- Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Francesca Lunardi
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova Medical School, Via A. Gabelli 61, 35121, Padova, Italy
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Tan AS, Nerurkar SN, Tan WCC, Goh D, Lai CPT, Poh Sheng Yeong J. The Virological, Immunological, and Imaging Approaches for COVID-19 Diagnosis and Research. SLAS Technol 2020; 25:522-544. [PMID: 32808850 PMCID: PMC7435207 DOI: 10.1177/2472630320950248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In 2019, a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) was found to cause a highly contagious disease characterized by pneumonia. The disease (COVID-19) quickly spread around the globe, escalating to a global pandemic. In this review, we discuss the virological, immunological, and imaging approaches harnessed for COVID-19 diagnosis and research. COVID-19 shares many clinical characteristics with other respiratory illnesses. Accurate and early detection of the infection is pivotal to controlling the outbreak, as this enables case identification, isolation, and contact tracing. We summarize the available literature on current laboratory and point-of-care diagnostics, highlight their strengths and limitations, and describe the emerging diagnostic approaches on the horizon. We also discuss the various research techniques that are being used to evaluate host immunity in laboratory-confirmed patients. Additionally, pathological imaging of tissue samples from affected patients has a critical role in guiding investigations on this disease. Conventional techniques, such as immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, have been frequently used to characterize the immune microenvironment in COVID-19. We also outline the emerging imaging techniques, such as the RNAscope, which might also aid in our understanding of the significance of COVID-19-specific biomarkers, such as the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) cellular receptor. Overall, great progress has been made in COVID-19 research in a short period. Extensive, global collation of our current knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 will provide insights into novel treatment modalities, such as monoclonal antibodies, and support the development of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- An Sen Tan
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Wei Chang Colin Tan
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Denise Goh
- Institute of Molecular Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chi Peng Timothy Lai
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joe Poh Sheng Yeong
- Institute of Molecular Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
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