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COVID-19: Autopsy findings in six patients between 26 and 46 years of age.
Greuel, Selina; Ihlow, Jana; Dragomir, Mihnea-Paul; Streit, Simon; Corman, Victor Max; Haberbosch, Linus; Winkler, David; Meinhardt, Jenny; Aschman, Tom; Schneider, Julia; Trotsyuk, Iryna; Kunze, Catarina Alisa; Maurer, Lukas; Radbruch, Helena; Heppner, Frank L; Horst, David; Elezkurtaj, Sefer.
  • Greuel S; Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Ihlow J; Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: jana.ihlow@charite.de.
  • Dragomir MP; Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Streit S; Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Corman VM; Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Haberbosch L; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Winkler D; Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Meinhardt J; Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Aschman T; Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Schneider J; Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Trotsyuk I; Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Kunze CA; Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Maurer L; Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Radbruch H; Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Heppner FL; Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Cluster of Excellence, NeuroCure, 10117 Berlin, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Horst D; Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
  • Elezkurtaj S; Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.
Int J Infect Dis ; 108: 274-281, 2021 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1253010
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES:

Studies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) usually focus on middle-aged and older adults. However, younger patients may present with severe COVID-19 with potentially fatal outcomes. For optimized, more specialized therapeutic regimens in this particular patient group, a better understanding of the underlying pathomechanisms is of utmost importance.

METHODS:

Our study investigated relevant, pre-existing medical conditions, clinical histories, and autopsy findings, together with SARS-CoV-2-RNA, determined by qPCR, and laboratory data in six COVID-19 decedents aged 50 years or younger, who were autopsied at the Charité University Hospital.

RESULTS:

From a total of 76 COVID-19 patients who underwent an autopsy at our institution, six (7.9%) were 50 years old or younger. Most of these younger COVID-19 decedents presented with pre-existing medical conditions prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection. These included overweight and obesity, arterial hypertension, asthma, and obstructive sleep apnea, as well as graft-versus-host disease following cancer and bone marrow transplantation. Furthermore, clinical histories and autopsy results revealed a disproportionally high prevalence of thromboembolism and ischemic organ damage in this patient cohort. Histopathology and laboratory results indicated coagulopathies, signs of immune dysregulation, and liver damage.

CONCLUSIONS:

In conclusion, pre-existing health conditions may increase the risk of severe and fatal COVID-19 in younger patients, who may be especially prone to developing thromboembolic complications, immune dysregulation, and liver damage.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 / Hypertension Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Aged / Humans / Middle aged Language: English Journal: Int J Infect Dis Journal subject: Communicable Diseases Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.ijid.2021.05.069

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: COVID-19 / Hypertension Type of study: Cohort study / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Aged / Humans / Middle aged Language: English Journal: Int J Infect Dis Journal subject: Communicable Diseases Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: J.ijid.2021.05.069