What can autopsy say about COVID-19? A case series of 60 autopsies.
Leg Med (Tokyo)
; 62: 102241, 2023 May.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2261200
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Autopsies in SARS-CoV-2 infected cadavers are mainly performed to distinguish patients who died with SARS-CoV-2 infection from those who died of COVID-19. The aim of the current study is to assess the most frequent autopsy findings in patients who died of COVID-19 and to establish an association with clinical records. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
60 patients died between April 2020 and March 2021 after SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent a full autopsy performed at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS (Rome). Ante-mortem diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection was microbiologically confirmed.RESULTS:
55 (92%) of cases had at least a comorbidity. At microscopic examination, 40 (67%) of the patients presented pulmonary intravascular coagulation with an inflammatory pattern. Pulmonary microangiopathy was a rare finding (n = 8; 13%). Myocardiosclerosis was the main heart finding (n = 44; 73%). Liver involvement with congestion and hypotrophy was found in 33 (55%) of cadavers. Renal tubular epithelial exfoliation (n = 12; 20%) and intravascular coagulation (n = 4; 7%) were frequent observations. During hospitalization 31% of patients (n = 19) developed acute kidney injury (AKI).CONCLUSIONS:
Lungs and kidneys have been shown to play a pivotal role in COVID-19. The gradual worsening of renal function and AKI might be the result of the progressive collapse of cardiopulmonary system.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Acute Kidney Injury
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Leg Med (Tokyo)
Journal subject:
Jurisprudence
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.legalmed.2023.102241
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