COVID-19:  achados histopatológicos post mortem

• Autor(a) principal: Maria Inês Pacheco de Sousa
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://hdl.handle.net/10216/141994
• topic: Medicina clínica; Clinical medicine

ABSTRACT Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic with substantial mortality and morbidity. It is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and evidence shows that the virus is not always confined to the respiratory tract and impacts the human body well beyond the lungs, showing an interplay with other organs. Indeed, the majority of COVID-19 patients show various other symptoms besides respiratory disorders including neurological and cardiovascular. Autopsies of patients who have died from COVID-19 have been crucial in delineating patterns of injury associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and the number of publications regarding COVID-19 pathology is increasing daily. The aim of this narrative review is to address the currently available histopathological data and the postmortem findings of patients with COVID-19. The autoptic findings may represent useful tools to better understand the physiopathology of the disease as well as to improve patient management and treatment strategies. Methods: A literature review was conducted according to SANRA guidelines. Histopathological reports from deceased COVID-19 patients undergoing autopsy or biopsy were reviewed and papers that reported macroscopic and/or microscopic data in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were considered. Data was sorted per organ system. Results: The major histological findings are tissue damage involving the lungs resulting in diffuse alveolar damage and intravascular microthrombi. Histopathologic examinations of other organs include microthrombi along with a variable degree of inflammation: dispersed area of cardiomyocyte necrosis with rare viral myocarditis pattern, hepatic steatosis and proximal acute tubule injury in renal tissues. Viral components (RNA, proteins) of SARS-CoV-2 were identified in multiple organs. Conclusion: COVID-19 affects not only the lungs and the virus can also be found in other organs and tissues. In terms of COVID-19 related pathological alterations the results demonstrate that the majority are not specific. In addition to pulmonary adverse reactions, short and long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 on other organs should be considered and injuries of the extrapulmonary organs need further investigation. Keywords (Palavras-chave): Autopsy, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2.