Abstract
At present, there are no comparative studies on the damage of the 3 coronaviruses infections to the urinary system. Therefore, we reviewed the correlations and differences between invading mechanisms and resultant urogenital system damage by the 3 kinds of coronaviruses in an effort to help doctors in the prevention and treatment of these damages, which will be of significance in improving prognosis and quality of life after rehabilitation. We searched PubMed® for English language articles published since 2003 with the key words "Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)," "severe acute respiratory syndrome-2 (SARS-CoV-2)," "severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV" and "Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV "with "semen" and "kidney." We also used relevant data from websites including the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recent studies have revealed that both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 invade target cells through a membrane-bound angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, an important component of the renin-angiotensin system, which maintains human homeostasis, whereas MERS utilizes host cells' receptor dipeptidyl peptidase 4 for entry. While pneumonia is the most prominent symptom in patients infected by coronaviruses due to the transmission through respiratory droplets, the urogenital system can also suffer from infection with coronaviruses, resulting in renal failure, testicular atrophy etc. The impairments of the genitourinary system would be different with the 3 coronavirus infections but they still have a strong correlation. The pathogenesis and clinical symptoms of SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 coronaviruses in the genitourinary system are comparable. All 3 coronaviruses have been found to affect kidney and testicular function. Therefore, both urologists and nephrologists should pay attention to the damage caused by coronavirus infection to the genitourinary system, especially monitoring renal and semen function.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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.
