Features of pathological anatomy of lungs at COVID-19

Abstract

The research aim is to study the morphological features of COVID-19 in the lungs of patients who died in Moscow from March 20 to June 6, 2020. Methods. Autopsy material of the lungs from 123 deceased (54 women, 69 men) with COVID-19 coronavirus infection (confirmed by PCR) was analyzed, the median age was 71 (30 - 94) years, and the duration of the disease was 14 (3 - 65) days. In all cases, the patient's medical records and autopsy reports were analyzed. Macro- and microscopic changes in the lungs were evaluated in all the observations. Results. The pathology of the lungs in COVID-19 corresponds to various phases of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD). The exudative phase of DAD was detected in 54 (43.9%), the proliferative phase - in 21 (14.63%), and their combination - in 51 (41.46%) of the deceased. Histological features of different phases of DAD are described. Conclusion. An analysis of autopsy material revealed a mismatch between the duration of the course of the disease and the phase of diffuse alveolar damage. A significant portion of the dead found a combination of exudative and proliferative phases of the disease. Histological signs that indirectly indicate a violation of the coagulation system during COVID-19 are described.