PATHOMORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME IN COMPETING LUNG DISEASES: COVID-19 AND SARCOIDOSIS.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a worldwide problem. The clinical spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 infection varies from asymptomatic or paucity-symptomatic forms to conditions such as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and multiple organ failure. Objective was to describe a clinical case of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the patient with sarcoidosis and cardiovascular pathology developing acute respiratory syndrome and lung edema. Material and methods. There were analyzed accompanying medical documentation (outpatient chart, medical history), clinical and morphological histology data (description of macro- and micro-preparations) using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results. Lung histological examination revealed signs of diffuse alveolar damage such as hyaline membranes lining and following the contours of the alveolar walls. Areas of necrosis and desquamation of the alveolar epithelium in the form of scattered cells or layers, areas of hemorrhages and hemosiderophages are detected in the alveolar walls. In the lumen of the alveoli, a sloughed epithelium with a hemorrhagic component, few multinucleated cells, macrophages, protein masses, and accumulated edematous fluid were determined. Pulmonary vessels are moderately full-blooded, surrounded by perivascular infiltrates. Signs of lung sarcoidosis were revealed. Histological examination found epithelioid cell granulomas consisting of mononuclear phagocytes and lymphocytes, without signs of necrosis. Granulomas with a proliferative component and hemorrhage sites were determined. Giant cells with cytoplasmic inclusions were detected - asteroid corpuscles and Schauman corpuscles. Non-caseous granulomas consisting of clusters of epithelioid histiocytes and giant Langhans cells surrounded by lymphocytes were detected in the lymph nodes of the lung roots. Hamazaki-Wesenberg corpuscles inside giant cells were found in the zones of peripheral sinuses of lymph nodes. In the lumen of the bronchi, there was found fully exfoliated epithelium, mucus. Granulomas are mainly observed subendothelially on the mucous membrane, without caseous necrosis. Histological examination of the cardiovascular system revealed fragmentation of some cardiomyocytes, cardiomyocyte focal hypertrophy along with moderate interstitial edema, erythrocyte sludge. Zones of small focal sclerosis were determined. The vessels of the microcirculatory bed are anemic, with hypertrophy of the walls in small arteries and arterioles. Virological examination of the sectional material in the lungs revealed SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Conclusion. Based on the data of medical documentation and the results of a post-mortem examination, it follows that the cause of death of the patient R.A., 50 years old, was a new coronavirus infection COVID-19 that resulted in bilateral total viral pneumonia. So-morbidity with competing diseases such as lung sarcoidosis and cardiovascular diseases aggravated the disease course, led to the development of early ARDS and affected the lethal outcome. Copyright © 2022 Saint Petersburg Pasteur Institute. All rights reserved.

[A rare case of multifocal leukoencephalopathy and cerebral stroke after SARS-CoV-2 infection]. / Mul'tifokal'naya leikoentsefalopatiya i ostryi insul't posle infitsirovaniya virusom SARS-CoV-2.

A case of the development of multifocal leukoencephalopathy and hemorrhage after infection with SARS-CoV-2 in a female patient with Alzheimer's disease, aged 67 years, is described. The patient was hospitalized by an ambulance. Computed tomography (CT) of the brain showed the signs of cerebral infarction in the basin of the left middle cerebral artery with hemorrhagic transformation, multiple low-density foci that do not accumulate contrast in the white matter of the brain, the presence of sickle-shaped lesions in the cerebellum. CT of the chest revealed bilateral diffuse COVID-associated pneumonitis, alveolitis. The percentage of lesion was 75%. A smear express test for a new coronavirus infection was positive. Treatment was started, and a sudden death occurred. A sectional study in the brain revealed signs of ischemic cerebral infarction and multifocal leukoencephalomalacia - foci of demyelination (from 1 mm to 1 cm) had a multifocal lesion located in different parts of the white matter. Fibrinoid necrosis of vessel walls, destructive-productive vasculitis, ischemic small-focal perivascular necrosis, ischemic lesions of neurons and glial cells, neuronal and glial spongiosis were noted. In conclusion, the cause of death of the patient was a new coronavirus infection COVID-19, which caused diffuse viral COVID-associated pneumonitis, alveolitis with the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome in adults, respiratory failure and COVID-associated ischemic infarction, multifocal leukoencephalopathy (or malacia), cerebral edema complicated by neuromorphological changes in the brain.

[The case of the development of ischemic stroke and cerebral edema after SARS-COV-2 infection in a patient with discirculatory encephalopathy and concomitant schizophrenia]. / Sluchai razvitiya ishemicheskogo insul'ta i oteka golovnogo mozga posle infitsirovaniya SARS-CoV-2 na fone distsirkulyatornoi entsefalopatii i soputstvuyushchei shizofrenii.

The article presents a case of ischemic stroke after SARS-CoV-2 infection in a patient with dyscirculatory encephalopathy and schizophrenia. Patient 44 years old, was hospitalized due to a confirmed diagnosis of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and diagnosed bilateral pneumonia with a damage to 65% of the lung parenchyma. The patient has a history of dyscirculatory encephalopathy and paranoid schizophrenia, a continuous type of course. A fatal outcome occurs on the 2nd day of inpatient treatment. A brain autopsy revealed pericellular and perivascular edema, looseness of neuroglia with necrobiotic changes in the brain substance. Neuronal damage, small-focal gliosis, basophilic balls, destructive-productive vasculitis, ischemic small-focus necrosis were revealed. In the lungs, areas of atelectasis, disatelectasis, hyaline membranes, and edematous fluid were found. Epithelium of the convoluted tubules showed dystrophic and necrotic changes. The cause of death of the patient was a new coronavirus infection COVID-19, which caused bilateral viral pneumonia, complicated by the development of acute respiratory failure and COVID-associated ischemic cerebral infarction complicated by neuromorphological changes in the brain.

Organ-specific pathomorphological changes during COVID-19

COVID-19 is an acute respiratory infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus causing pneumonia, lesions in the cardiovascular system and other organs, high mortality risk, especially in geriatric patients. Due to the great relevance, this study was aimed at describing the case of severe COVID-19 with development of multiple organ failure. Materials and methods. Available accompanying medical documentation (outpatient charts, medical history) was analyzed. Clinical and morphological analysis was carried out by providing description of macro- and micropreparations;histological methods (hematoxylin and eosin staining, Lee reaction) were used. Results. Female patient K.G., 69 years old, was hospitalized to the therapeutic department diagnosed with coronary heart disease. Acute coronary syndrome with ST segment elevation was made on 04/20/2020. A competing diagnosis: severe community-acquired bilateral multi-segmental pneumonia. The patient's condition was aggravated wile applying therapy followed by biological death occurred. An autopsy revealed bilateral subtotal hemorrhagic pneumonia. Macroscopic lung examination demonstrated "lungs filled with red fluid". In the brain - perivascular and pericellular edema, hyalinosis, blood stasis and sludge, marked dystrophic and necrotic neuronal changes. Cardiomyocyte fragmentation, areas of perivascular sclerosis with inflammatory infiltrates as well as erythrocytic sludge are found in the heart and blood vessels, respectively. A weak positive reaction according to Lee method was observed. Such clinical and morphological case demonstrates along with lung damage involvement of the heart resulting in acute coronary syndrome (morphologically manifested by ischemic myocardial dystrophy) and the brain. Thus, premorbid background in elderly patients results in developing acute pulmonary heart failure, pulmonary and cerebral edema.