Extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19

Nat Med. 2020 Jul;26(7):1017-1032. doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-0968-3. Epub 2020 Jul 10.

Abstract

Although COVID-19 is most well known for causing substantial respiratory pathology, it can also result in several extrapulmonary manifestations. These conditions include thrombotic complications, myocardial dysfunction and arrhythmia, acute coronary syndromes, acute kidney injury, gastrointestinal symptoms, hepatocellular injury, hyperglycemia and ketosis, neurologic illnesses, ocular symptoms, and dermatologic complications. Given that ACE2, the entry receptor for the causative coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, is expressed in multiple extrapulmonary tissues, direct viral tissue damage is a plausible mechanism of injury. In addition, endothelial damage and thromboinflammation, dysregulation of immune responses, and maladaptation of ACE2-related pathways might all contribute to these extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19. Here we review the extrapulmonary organ-specific pathophysiology, presentations and management considerations for patients with COVID-19 to aid clinicians and scientists in recognizing and monitoring the spectrum of manifestations, and in developing research priorities and therapeutic strategies for all organ systems involved.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity / physiology
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity*
  • Betacoronavirus / physiology
  • COVID-19
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology
  • Coronavirus Infections / pathology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / therapy
  • Disease Progression
  • Endothelium, Vascular / pathology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / virology
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / etiology
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Inflammation / virology
  • Organ Specificity*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / pathology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / therapy
  • Renin-Angiotensin System / physiology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Thrombosis / etiology
  • Thrombosis / pathology
  • Thrombosis / virology
  • Virus Internalization