ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 is an ongoing health problem with millions of cases and deaths worldwide. Although the virus is transmitted with droplets through the respiratory system, the involvement of different organs has been reported. OBJECTIVES: The pandemic caused urological procedures to be postponed when patient is infected with SARS-CoV-2. However, the reliability of 1 month postpone period and long-term complications of the virus, such as a possible erectile dysfunction (ED) is not clarified. We aimed to compare the corpus cavernosum of patients 1 and 7 months after COVID-19 infection with control patients who had not COVID-19 and search for SARS-CoV-2 in tissues using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three groups of subjects underwent penile prosthesis implantation and Nesbit procedure for Peyronie's disease 1 and 7 months after COVID-19 infection and control group without previous COVID-19 infection. We searched for SARS-CoV-2 in penile tissue using RT-PCR, electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Electron microscopy and immunohistochemical staining showed SARS CoV-2 virus in the penile corpus cavernosum of patients 1 month after COVID-19 recovery. Immunohistochemical staining intensity correlated with the severity of previous infection. Transmission electron microscopy revealed intracellular virtual particles of about 80 nm with a typical morphology of prominent spikes and electron-dense dots of nucleocapsid in addition to vesicles filled with virus-like particles. Cells showed increased membrane trafficking. The 1 month after COVID-19 group showed an increased number of fibroblasts. The 7 months after COVID-19 group had similar morphology and immunoreactivity as control group. DISCUSSION: This is the first study of late post-COVID examination of penis and the second study of early post-COVID examination of corpus cavernosum. For 1 month post-COVID patients, the aetiology of ED could be the viral infection that is also affecting corpora cavernosa. We hypothesize that viral infection affects the endocytic and exocytic pathways, hence the metabolic activity of cells that can be the reason of altered functions in some post-COVID patients. CONCLUSION: This study is important because it did not detect any virus residue in the tissue samples at the seventh month. In addition, we can say that the penile surgeries should be postponed more than 1 month after the COVID infection according to this study. But, there is a need for new studies with large series and high levels of evidence that can show how long the virus remains in the corpus cavernosum. Patients should be followed in this respect.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Novel coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) has emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019 and became a pandemic in a few weeks. In this review, we aimed to summarize the current urologic practice trends worldwide to help urologist in decision making in disasters particularly in Covid-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We have performed a PubMed and Internet search by using the keywords: 'Covid', 'new coronavirus', 'coronavirus urology, 'covid urology' without a date restriction. Results: All elective surgeries for benign urological conditions such as urinary tract stone disease that not caused complicated obstruction, benign prostate enlargement, infertility, incontinence and genitourinary prolapse, erectile dysfunction undescendent testis, vesico-ureteral reflux should be postponed till the lasting of Covid-19 outbreak. In obstructing ureteral stone both nephrostomy tube and double-J stent insertion are valid management options. However, one must consider that these procedures must be performed under local anesthesia when possible to spare a ventilator. When deferring urooncological operations and treatments oncological outcomes must be considered. Aggressive cessation or reducing the dosage of immunosuppressant therapy might be an option in renal transplanted patients with severe pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome.