M S Bisharyan, K A Arsenyan, P S Khachatryan, M Z Muradyan, A A Tonoyan
{"title":"Histopathological autopsy findings in lungs of pregnant and postpartum women who died of COVID-19 infections.","authors":"M S Bisharyan, K A Arsenyan, P S Khachatryan, M Z Muradyan, A A Tonoyan","doi":"10.1007/s00194-023-00618-z","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV coronavirus, has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020, as a result of which about 315,000,000 people all over the world have been infected and more than 5,000,000 died.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>Many scientific articles have been published concerning histopathological changes in different organs, but data concerning the lung changes of pregnant and postpartum period women who died of COVID-19 infections are still scarce. The aim of our study was to review and summarize autopsy findings and histopathological changes in lungs of pregnant and postpartum period women who died of COVID-19 infections in Armenia during 2020-2021.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>Lung tissue specimens of 14 pregnant and postpartum period women who died of COVID-19 infections and its complications were examined. Hematoxylin-eosin and van Gieson staining methods as well as immunohistochemical examinations were used.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The average age of the dead women was 33.9 years. From 14 cases in 9 there were comorbidities. All cases of death were in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy or early and late postpartum period. Forensic medical diagnosis included COVID-19 infection with bilateral polysegmented pneumonia and acute respiratory failure. Histopathological examination revealed diffuse alveolar damage of lungs (DAD) in predominantly proliferation/organizing stage.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Histopathological examination of lungs showed proliferative stage of DAD with signs of fibrosing pneumonia. Early diagnosis and hospitalization of pregnant women may prevent late complications of COVID-19 infection and fibrosing pneumonia development, as well as future risks of fatal outcomes in pregnant and early postpartum period.</p>","PeriodicalId":54508,"journal":{"name":"Rechtsmedizin","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.4000,"publicationDate":"2023-04-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10078060/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Rechtsmedizin","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00194-023-00618-z","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"MEDICINE, LEGAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak (COVID-19) caused by the SARS-CoV coronavirus, has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020, as a result of which about 315,000,000 people all over the world have been infected and more than 5,000,000 died.
Objective: Many scientific articles have been published concerning histopathological changes in different organs, but data concerning the lung changes of pregnant and postpartum period women who died of COVID-19 infections are still scarce. The aim of our study was to review and summarize autopsy findings and histopathological changes in lungs of pregnant and postpartum period women who died of COVID-19 infections in Armenia during 2020-2021.
Material and methods: Lung tissue specimens of 14 pregnant and postpartum period women who died of COVID-19 infections and its complications were examined. Hematoxylin-eosin and van Gieson staining methods as well as immunohistochemical examinations were used.
Results: The average age of the dead women was 33.9 years. From 14 cases in 9 there were comorbidities. All cases of death were in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy or early and late postpartum period. Forensic medical diagnosis included COVID-19 infection with bilateral polysegmented pneumonia and acute respiratory failure. Histopathological examination revealed diffuse alveolar damage of lungs (DAD) in predominantly proliferation/organizing stage.
Conclusion: Histopathological examination of lungs showed proliferative stage of DAD with signs of fibrosing pneumonia. Early diagnosis and hospitalization of pregnant women may prevent late complications of COVID-19 infection and fibrosing pneumonia development, as well as future risks of fatal outcomes in pregnant and early postpartum period.
期刊介绍:
Rechtsmedizin is an internationally recognized journal dealing with all aspects of forensic medicine. It provides information on current developments in forensic pathology, traumatology, traffic medicine, toxicology, serology, insurance medicine, psychopathology and legal medical issues.
Freely submitted original papers allow the presentation of important clinical studies and serve scientific exchange.
Case reports feature interesting and unique cases thus providing a platform for scientific information and critical discussion.
Comprehensive reviews on a specific topical issue focus on providing evidenced based information on all aspects of the field.
Review articles under the rubric ''Continuing Medical Education'' present verified results of scientific research and their integration into daily practice.