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COVID-19 post-mortem findings: how the departed can teach us
Mohammed Nimir1,1,2, Atisha Tank1,1,2, David Snead1,1,2
1Histopathology Specialty Trainee, Department of Cellular Pathology, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, Coventry, UK. Conflict of interest: none declared.
Diagnostic Histopathology (Oxford, England)
|August 3, 2021
Summary
A healthcare worker with asthma died from COVID-19. Post-mortem examination revealed diffuse alveolar damage and vascular complications, highlighting severe SARS-CoV-2 pathology.
Area of Science:
- Pathology
- Virology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can cause fatal pneumonia.
- Frontline healthcare workers are at increased risk of exposure.
- Asthma may be a comorbidity influencing disease severity.
Observation:
- A 39-year-old asthmatic female healthcare worker exposed to COVID-19 patients presented with respiratory distress and died.
- Post-mortem examination revealed lung consolidation, diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), hyaline membranes, atypical cells, and pulmonary microvascular thrombi.
Findings:
- Histological findings confirmed diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), a hallmark of severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.
- Pulmonary capillaries showed evidence of microthrombi and fibrin deposition, suggesting a role in cardiorespiratory failure.
- SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed via swab testing.
Implications:
- Post-mortem findings are crucial for understanding the severe pathophysiological mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2.
- DAD and microvascular thrombosis are key features of fatal COVID-19 pneumonia.
- This case underscores the potential for rapid disease progression and mortality in high-risk individuals.
