Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 indirectly damages kidney structures

Abstract

Background. The objectives were to characterize Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). Methods. Kidney biopsy samples in two Caucasian patients and one African with COVID-19 AKI were investigated. Results. All patients had a high-level non-selective glomerular proteinuria. SARS-CoV-2 samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) assay were all-negative, as well as for virus particles in the kidney by electron microscopy. The three patients and patients with other AKI did not differ significantly with regard to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and transmembrane protease serine 2 kidney staining. Conclusions. The kidney damage particularly in Caucasians in COVID-19 seems to be an AKI, possibly by the systemic inflammatory response.