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ABSTRACT: Background
Histopathological studies have shown inflammation, cardiomyocyte injury, and microvascular thrombosis in the ventricular myocardium of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, although atrial dysfunction is common in COVID-19, little is known about histopathological changes in the atria of the heart. We therefore analyzed inflammation, cardiomyocyte injury, and microvascular thrombogenicity in the atria of deceased patients with COVID-19.Methods
Atrial tissue was obtained from autopsied COVID-19 (n=16) patients and control patients (n=10) and analyzed using immunohistochemistry. The infiltration of CD45+ leukocytes, CD3+ T lymphocytes, CD68+ macrophages, MPO+ neutrophils, and Tryptase+ mast cells were quantified as well as cardiomyocyte damage and microvascular thrombosis. In addition, Tissue Factor (TF) and Factor XII (FXII) were quantified as markers of microvascular thrombogenicity.Results
The numbers of lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils were significantly increased in the atrial myocardium and epicardial atrial adipose tissue of COVID-19 patients compared with the control group. This was accompanied by dispersed cardiomyocyte injury, the occasional presence of microvascular thrombosis, and an increased presence of TF and FXII in the microvascular endothelium.Conclusions
Severe COVID-19 induces inflammation, cardiomyocyte injury, and microvascular thrombosis in the atria of the heart.
SUBMITTER: Wu L
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9839463 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May-Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Wu Linghe L Jiang Zhu Z Meulendijks Eva R ER Baylan Umit U Waas Ingeborg S E ISE Bugiani Marianna M Tuinman Pieter R PR Fronczek Judith J Heunks Leo M A LMA de Groot Joris R JR van Rossum Albert C AC Niessen Hans W M HWM Krijnen Paul A J PAJ
Cardiovascular pathology : the official journal of the Society for Cardiovascular Pathology 20230114
<h4>Background</h4>Histopathological studies have shown inflammation, cardiomyocyte injury, and microvascular thrombosis in the ventricular myocardium of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, although atrial dysfunction is common in COVID-19, little is known about histopathological changes in the atria of the heart. We therefore analyzed inflammation, cardiomyocyte injury, and microvascular thrombogenicity in the atria of deceased patients with COVID-19.<h4>Methods</h4>Atri ...[more]