Abstract
Background: The pathological features of severe cardiac injury induced by COVID-19 and relevant clinical features is unknown.Methods: This autopsy cohort study, including hearts from 26 deceased patients hospitalized in intensive care unit due to COVID-19, was conducted at four sites in Wuhan, China. Cases were divided into neutrophil-infiltration group and no-neutrophil group according to histopathological identification of neutrophilic infiltrates or not.Findings: Among 26 cases, four cases had active myocarditis with histopathological examination. All cases with myocarditis accompanied with extensive neutrophil infiltration, while cases without myocarditis did not. Detection rates of interleukin-6 (100% vs 4.6%) and tumor necrosis factor-α (100% vs 31.8%) in neutrophil-infiltration group were significantly higher compared to no-neutrophil group (pInterpretation: In hearts from deceased patients with severe COVID-19 , active myocarditis was commonly infiltrated with neutrophils. Cases with neutrophil-infiltrated myocarditis had a series of severe abnormal laboratory tests at admission, and a high maximum of CK-MB during hospitalization. Role of neutrophil on severe heart injury and even systemic condition in COVID-19 should be emphasized.Funding Information: : Emergency Key Program of Guangzhou Laboratory, Grant No. EKPG21-32. Declaration of Interests: None exist.Ethics Approval Statement: Full autopsy was performed after patient death with the approval of the ethics committees and written consent of patient relatives in accordance with regulations issued by the National Health Commission of China and the Helsinki Declaration.
Highlights
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) still repeatedly and intermittently occur around the whole world
In hearts from deceased patients with severe COVID-19, active myocarditis was commonly infiltrated with neutrophils
A total of 26 patients admitted in intensive care unit (ICU) due to COVID-19 were included in this pathological study
Summary
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) still repeatedly and intermittently occur around the whole world. A proportion of patients with COVID-19 was progressed to critically ill cases, and had a significantly higher mortality[7, 8]. We intended to conduct a post-mortem pathological study among critically ill COVID19 patients, to describe pathological features of hearts and explore the relationship between these changes and clinical characteristics. The pathological features of severe cardiac injury induced by COVID-19 and relevant clinical features is unknown. This post-mortem study intended to determine the pathological findings of hearts from critically ill COVID-19 cases and explore the association of pathological changes and clinical characteristics
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
