The Pathology of Severe COVID-19-Related Lung Damage

202091 citationsJournal Articlegreen Open Access

Authors

F. Kommoss

Constantin Schwab · University Hospital Heidelberg

Luca Tavernar · German Center for Lung Research

Johannes Schreck · University Hospital Heidelberg

Willi L. Wagner · Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

Uta Merle · Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

Danny Jonigk · BioBank Japan

Abstract

Autopsies are crucial for the systematic assessment of new diseases such as COVID-19: they provide a basis for further investigations of disease mechanisms and for the devising of potentially effective modes of treatment. The autopsy findings suggest that focal damage of the microvascular pulmonary circulation is a main mechanism of lethal lung disease due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It may also be a cause of persistent lung damage in patients who recover from severe COVID-19.

Topics & Keywords

COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies Long-Term Effects of COVID-19 COVID-19 and healthcare impacts

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Good health and well-being

Publication Details

Published in: Deutsches Ärzteblatt international

Volume 117, Issue 29-30, pp. 500-506

DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2020.0500

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 2.13

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