Histopathological changes in lungs of patients with fatal COVID 19 infection: A series of 15 cases
Introduction: The predominant pathology noted in the lungs of patients dying of COVID-19 is reported to be diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). Other studies have identified microthrombi to be a prominent finding of lung injury in patients affected by COVID-19. We describe the lung histopathological findi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijpmonline.org/article.asp?issn=0377-4929;year=2023;volume=66;issue=4;spage=834;epage=838;aulast=Medhi |
| _version_ | 1797210130527289344 |
|---|---|
| author | Pranita Medhi Swagata Dowerah Nabajit Barman Mridul Singh |
| author_facet | Pranita Medhi Swagata Dowerah Nabajit Barman Mridul Singh |
| author_sort | Pranita Medhi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: The predominant pathology noted in the lungs of patients dying of COVID-19 is reported to be diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). Other studies have identified microthrombi to be a prominent finding of lung injury in patients affected by COVID-19. We describe the lung histopathological findings in fifteen cases of COVID-19 who died from the disease with the aim of reporting the microscopic changes in the lungs of patients dying from this disease. Materials and Methods: Lung tissues from fifteen consecutive autopsy cases of COVID-19 were studied for gross and microscopic features. The case history of the deaths was noted, and the information was analyzed. The lung damage seen was graded on a semiquantitative scale on the basis of the percentage of tissue involved. Results: Gross examination of the lungs showed multiple foci of consolidation mainly in the lower lobes of the lungs as the most commonly encountered finding. The other significant pattern was congested and edematous lungs with areas of consolidation. Microscopic assessment of lung sections showed 8 out of the 15 cases showing changes of the exudative phase of diffuse alveolar damage, whereas two cases were in the proliferative phase. Hyaline membranes were one of the common findings along with intra-alveolar edema and interstitial edema. Four cases showed changes in organizing phase. Other findings were microthrombi formation, fungal abscesses, dilated and collapsed alveoli, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, and acute neutrophilic pneumonia. Conclusion: DADand interstitial pneumonitis were the most striking features in our autopsy study. Features of different phases of diffuse alveolar damage were seen to coexist in the same patient indicating the temporal heterogeneity of the ongoing lung injury in these patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:05:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5aa2b0a36094069af8ad3166a123738 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0377-4929 0974-5130 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:05:42Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5aa2b0a36094069af8ad3166a1237382024-04-13T02:59:36ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology0377-49290974-51302023-01-0166483483810.4103/ijpm.ijpm_866_21Histopathological changes in lungs of patients with fatal COVID 19 infection: A series of 15 casesPranita MedhiSwagata DowerahNabajit BarmanMridul SinghIntroduction: The predominant pathology noted in the lungs of patients dying of COVID-19 is reported to be diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). Other studies have identified microthrombi to be a prominent finding of lung injury in patients affected by COVID-19. We describe the lung histopathological findings in fifteen cases of COVID-19 who died from the disease with the aim of reporting the microscopic changes in the lungs of patients dying from this disease. Materials and Methods: Lung tissues from fifteen consecutive autopsy cases of COVID-19 were studied for gross and microscopic features. The case history of the deaths was noted, and the information was analyzed. The lung damage seen was graded on a semiquantitative scale on the basis of the percentage of tissue involved. Results: Gross examination of the lungs showed multiple foci of consolidation mainly in the lower lobes of the lungs as the most commonly encountered finding. The other significant pattern was congested and edematous lungs with areas of consolidation. Microscopic assessment of lung sections showed 8 out of the 15 cases showing changes of the exudative phase of diffuse alveolar damage, whereas two cases were in the proliferative phase. Hyaline membranes were one of the common findings along with intra-alveolar edema and interstitial edema. Four cases showed changes in organizing phase. Other findings were microthrombi formation, fungal abscesses, dilated and collapsed alveoli, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, and acute neutrophilic pneumonia. Conclusion: DADand interstitial pneumonitis were the most striking features in our autopsy study. Features of different phases of diffuse alveolar damage were seen to coexist in the same patient indicating the temporal heterogeneity of the ongoing lung injury in these patients.http://www.ijpmonline.org/article.asp?issn=0377-4929;year=2023;volume=66;issue=4;spage=834;epage=838;aulast=Medhicovid 19histopathologylung autopsy |
| spellingShingle | Pranita Medhi Swagata Dowerah Nabajit Barman Mridul Singh Histopathological changes in lungs of patients with fatal COVID 19 infection: A series of 15 cases Indian Journal of Pathology and Microbiology covid 19 histopathology lung autopsy |
| title | Histopathological changes in lungs of patients with fatal COVID 19 infection: A series of 15 cases |
| title_full | Histopathological changes in lungs of patients with fatal COVID 19 infection: A series of 15 cases |
| title_fullStr | Histopathological changes in lungs of patients with fatal COVID 19 infection: A series of 15 cases |
| title_full_unstemmed | Histopathological changes in lungs of patients with fatal COVID 19 infection: A series of 15 cases |
| title_short | Histopathological changes in lungs of patients with fatal COVID 19 infection: A series of 15 cases |
| title_sort | histopathological changes in lungs of patients with fatal covid 19 infection a series of 15 cases |
| topic | covid 19 histopathology lung autopsy |
| url | http://www.ijpmonline.org/article.asp?issn=0377-4929;year=2023;volume=66;issue=4;spage=834;epage=838;aulast=Medhi |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pranitamedhi histopathologicalchangesinlungsofpatientswithfatalcovid19infectionaseriesof15cases AT swagatadowerah histopathologicalchangesinlungsofpatientswithfatalcovid19infectionaseriesof15cases AT nabajitbarman histopathologicalchangesinlungsofpatientswithfatalcovid19infectionaseriesof15cases AT mridulsingh histopathologicalchangesinlungsofpatientswithfatalcovid19infectionaseriesof15cases |