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SARS-CoV-2 RNA Detected in Vitreous Samples Obtained at Autopsy
Marisa Tieger1, Upasana Das Adhikari2, Shizuo Mukai1
1Harvard Medical School Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA.
Purpose:
This work aims to examine the vitreous of autopsy patients with COVID-19 for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
Methods:
Four deceased patients with COVID-19 had an autopsy at Massachusetts General Hospital. Two control specimens were obtained from patients undergoing retinal detachment repair with negative preoperative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Vitreous specimens were obtained from autopsy patients with COVID-19 after povidone was placed on the ocular surface to decrease the risk of contamination of the vitreous specimen. SARS-CoV-2 RNA for gene N (nucleocapsid) was tested using reverse transcription-PCR.
Results:
SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in the vitreous of 2 of 4 autopsy patients who died from complications of COVID-19.
Conclusions:
SARS-CoV-2 RNA can penetrate into the vitreous of systemically infected patients, which might present risks to operating room personnel during ophthalmic surgical procedures.
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