[SARS-CoV-2 infection. Descriptive analysis of a selected case series]

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Virology
• Pathophysiology

Context:

• The COVID-19 pandemic, declared in March 2020, has seen widespread reporting of clinical, analytical, and radiological findings.
• However, detailed accounts of the diverse clinical trajectories within a single local outbreak remain scarce.

Purpose:

• To report and analyze the distinct clinical, radiological, and analytical evolution of six patients who were epidemiological close contacts within the same COVID-19 outbreak.
• To investigate the factors contributing to varied patient outcomes and explore pathophysiological aspects beyond respiratory involvement.

Summary:

• Initial clinical presentations were similar across the six patients, but clinical evolution diverged significantly.
• Inflammation markers (D-dimer, IL-6, ferritin, lymphocytes) correlated with disease severity.
• While lung alterations were prominent, neurological/neuropsychiatric findings were also common. Two patients experienced moderate symptoms, while two severely affected patients died.

Impact:

• This case series underscores the heterogeneity of COVID-19 progression, even among closely linked individuals.
• Findings suggest that understanding diverse pathophysiological pathways is crucial for predicting COVID-19 outcomes.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the distinct evolutive pathways and factors influencing mortality in COVID-19.