Pathophysiology of coronavirus disease 2019 for wound care professionals.

ABSTRACT

There is pressing urgency to understand the pathogenesis of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which causes Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The tissue tropism of SARS-CoV-2 includes not only the lung but also the vascular and integumentary systems. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) appears to be the key functional receptor for the virus. There is a prominent innate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, including inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, the complement system, and acute phase proteins. The pathophysiologic significance of SARS-COV-2 and host immune system interaction, and COVID-19-associated coagulopathy instigating microvascular injury syndrome mediated by activation of complement pathways, and an associated procoagulant state is important for wound care professionals to understand.