Lesions in the Lungs of Fatal Corona Virus Disease Covid-19

Overview

Journal Ann Anat

Specialty Anatomy & Histology

Date 2020 Dec 6

PMID 33279630

Citations 8

Authors

Colya N Englisch

Thomas Tschernig

Fidelis Flockerzi

Carola Meier

Rainer M Bohle

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The corona virus outbreak in Wuhan, China, at the end of 2019 has rapidly evolved into a pandemic which is still virulent in many countries. An infection with SARS-CoV-2 can lead to corona virus disease (Covid-19). This paper presents an overview of the knowledge gained so far with regard to histopathological lung lesions in fatal courses of Covid-19. The main findings were diffuse alveolar damage and micro-angiopathies. These included the development of hyaline membranes, thrombi, endothelial inflammation, haemorrhages and angiogenesis. Overall, the vessel lesions seemed to be more lethal than the diffuse alveolar damage. There was obvious hyperreactivity and hyperinflammation of the cellular immune system. An expanded T-cell memory may explain the increased risk of a severe course in the elderly.

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