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Cut TG, Ciocan V, Novacescu D, Voicu A, Marinescu AR, Lazureanu VE, Muresan CO, Enache A, Dumache R. Autopsy Findings and Inflammatory Markers in SARS-CoV-2: A Single-Center Experience. Int J Gen Med 2022; 15:8743-8753. [PMID: 36597439 PMCID: PMC9805743 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s389300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The systemic inflammatory response related to COVID-19 can be easily investigated in living patients. Unfortunately, not every biomarker is suitable for postmortem analysis since several factors may interfere. The aim of this study was to summarize key histopathological findings within each organ system due to COVID-19 and to assess if serological inexpensive and widely available biomarkers such as CRP, IL-6, fibrinogen and d-Dimers, associated with adverse outcomes in COVID-19, can be implemented in a post-mortem assessment. Patients and Methods A total of 60 subjects divided in 2 groups were included. All subjects died outside a hospital setting and therefore did not receive specific or symptomatic therapies that could have modulated the inflammatory response. The first group included 45 subjects in which mandatory autopsy was performed in order to establish the cause of death and macroscopic examination of the lungs was highly suggestive of SARS-CoV-2 infection. As controls (Group 2), 20 subjects who died from polytrauma in high velocity car accidents and suicide were selected. Bronchial fluids collected during the autopsy procedure were used for the RT-PCR diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 and serum samples were sent for analysis of IL-6, CRP, d-Dimers and fibrinogen. Results Compared with the control group, the subjects of the COVID-19 group were older (59±19.5 vs.38±19.15 years, p=0.0002) and had more underlying comorbidities such as hypertension (60% vs 35%, p=0.06) or were overweight (53.3% vs 30%, p=0.08). The levels of CRP, IL-6, fibrinogen and d-Dimers in postmortem plasma samples were significantly higher in COVID-19 subjects than in control group (p< 0.0001). Moreover, the level of IL-6 was significantly higher in overweight patients (r=0.52, P<0.001). In all COVID-19 subjects, the histological examination revealed features corresponding to the exudative and/or proliferative phases of diffuse alveolar damage. Large pulmonary emboli were observed in 7 cases. Gross cardiac enlargement with left ventricular hypertrophy was observed in 19 cases. The most frequent pathological finding of the central nervous system was acute/early-subacute infarction. Conclusion Due to the complexity of the inflammatory response, we postulate that a combination of biomarkers, rather than a single laboratory parameter, might be more effective in obtaining a reliable postmortem COVID-19 diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talida Georgiana Cut
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania,Victor Babes Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pneumophtisiology Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania,Doctoral School Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania,Center for Ethics in Human Genetic Identifications, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania,Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Veronica Ciocan
- Center for Ethics in Human Genetic Identifications, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania,Department of Forensic Medicine, Bioethics, Deontology and Medical Law, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania,Correspondence: Veronica Ciocan, Department of Forensic Medicine, Bioethics, Deontology and Medical Law, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania, Tel +40722944453, Email
| | - Dorin Novacescu
- Doctoral School Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania,Academy of Romanian Scientists, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Adrian Voicu
- Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Adelina Raluca Marinescu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania,Victor Babes Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pneumophtisiology Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Voichita Elena Lazureanu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania,Victor Babes Clinical Hospital of Infectious Diseases and Pneumophtisiology Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Camelia Oana Muresan
- Center for Ethics in Human Genetic Identifications, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania,Department of Forensic Medicine, Bioethics, Deontology and Medical Law, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Alexandra Enache
- Center for Ethics in Human Genetic Identifications, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania,Department of Forensic Medicine, Bioethics, Deontology and Medical Law, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Raluca Dumache
- Center for Ethics in Human Genetic Identifications, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania,Department of Forensic Medicine, Bioethics, Deontology and Medical Law, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania
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Increased Susceptibility for Thromboembolic Events versus High Bleeding Risk Associated with COVID-19. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10091738. [PMID: 36144340 PMCID: PMC9505654 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10091738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is associated with numerous systemic involvements. Besides the severe respiratory injuries and cardiovascular complications, it became obvious early on that this disease carries an increased risk of thromboembolic events, but a higher propensity for bleedings as well. We researched the medical literature over significant PubMed published articles debating on the prevalence, category of patients, the moment of occurrence, and evolution of venous thromboembolism (VTE), but also of venous and arterial “in situ” thrombosis (AT), and hemorrhagic events as well. Most researchers agree on an increased prevalence of thromboembolic events, ranging between 25 and 31% for VTE, depending on the analyzed population. For AT and hemorrhagic complications lower rates were reported, namely, about 2–3%, respectively, between 4.8 and 8%, occurring mostly in older patients, suffering from moderate/severe forms of COVID-19, with associated comorbidities. It is important to mention that patients suffering from hemorrhages frequently received thromboprophylaxis with anticoagulant drugs. As a consequence of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications which are both important negative prognostic factors, the evolution of patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus is aggravated, determining an augmented morbidity and mortality of this population.
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