COVID-19 and SEPSIS

Turk J Med Sci. 2021 Sep 30. doi: 10.3906/sag-2108-239. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe COVID-19 pandemic has created a major alteration in the medical literature including the sepsis discussion. From the outset of the pandemic, various reports have indicated that although there are some unique features pertinent to COVID-19, many of its acute manifestations are similar to sepsis caused by other pathogens. As a consequence, the old definitions now require consideration of this new etiologic agent, namely SARS-CoV-2. Although the pathogenesis of COVID-19 has been not fully explained, the data obtained so far in hospitalized patients has revealed that serum cytokine and chemokine levels are high in severe COVID-19 patients, similar to those found with sepsis. COVID-19, may involve multiple organ systems. In addition to the lungs, the virus has been isolated from blood, urine, faeces, liver and gallbladder. Results from autopsy series in COVID-19 patients have demonstrated a wide range of findings including vascular involvement, congestion, consolidation, and hemorrhage as well as diffuse alveolar damage in lung tissue in keeping with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The presence of viral cytopathic-like changes, infiltration of inflammatory cells (mononuclear cells and macrophages), and viral particles in histopathological samples are considered a consequence of both direct viral infection and immune hyperactivation. Thromboembolism and hyper-coagulopathy are other...
Source: Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences - Category: General Medicine Authors: Source Type: research