Translational deep phenotyping of deaths related to the COVID-19 pandemic: protocol for a prospective observational autopsy study
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic is an international emergency with an extreme socioeconomic impact and a high mortality and disease burden. The COVID-19 outbreak is neither fully understood nor fully pictured. Autopsy studies can help understand the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and has already result...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2021-08-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e049083.full |
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| author | Jytte Banner Mikkel Jon Henningsen Apameh Khatam-Lashgari Kristine Boisen Olsen Christina Jacobsen Christian Beltoft Brøchner |
| author_facet | Jytte Banner Mikkel Jon Henningsen Apameh Khatam-Lashgari Kristine Boisen Olsen Christina Jacobsen Christian Beltoft Brøchner |
| author_sort | Jytte Banner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic is an international emergency with an extreme socioeconomic impact and a high mortality and disease burden. The COVID-19 outbreak is neither fully understood nor fully pictured. Autopsy studies can help understand the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and has already resulted in better treatment of patients. Structured and systematic autopsy of COVID-19-related deaths will enhance the mapping of pathophysiological pathways, not possible in the living. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to envision factors translationally for the purpose of disease prevention in this and future pandemics. This is the protocol for an autopsy study that offers an umbrella for deep and diverse investigations of COVID-19-related deaths, including a systematic investigation of ‘long’ COVID-19 by means of extensive and systematic tissue sampling.Methods and analysis A COVID-19-specific autopsy algorithm has been created to cover all cases undergoing clinical or forensic autopsy in Denmark. The algorithm describes advanced tissue sampling and a translational analytical follow-up for deep phenotyping. The translational approach covers registry data, postmortem imaging, gross autopsy findings, microscopic organ changes, postmortem toxicology, postmortem biochemical investigation, microbiological profiling and immunological status at the time of death, and future research projects covering genetics and epigenetics on an organ level.Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by the Regional Ethics Committee of the Region of Greater Copenhagen (No: H-20078436) and the Danish Data Protection Agency (No: 2002-54-1080). Next of kin gave informed consent to research. The study results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration number This study is purely observational and, as such, does not meet the criteria of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors for clinical trials; thus, there is no need for registration in a database of research trials, such as clinical trials. To facilitate cooperation in research, provide transparency on case recruitment for publications to come and to avoid unnecessary duplicate work, we nevertheless wish to publish our protocol. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-137c1a4dbb014d269a659caacf31e475 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-137c1a4dbb014d269a659caacf31e4752025-08-20T02:30:59ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552021-08-0111810.1136/bmjopen-2021-049083Translational deep phenotyping of deaths related to the COVID-19 pandemic: protocol for a prospective observational autopsy studyJytte Banner0Mikkel Jon Henningsen1Apameh Khatam-Lashgari2Kristine Boisen Olsen3Christina Jacobsen4Christian Beltoft Brøchner5Section of Forensic Pathology, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, DenmarkSection of Forensic Pathology, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, DenmarkSection of Forensic Pathology, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, DenmarkSection of Forensic Pathology, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, DenmarkSection of Forensic Pathology, Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DenmarkIntroduction The COVID-19 pandemic is an international emergency with an extreme socioeconomic impact and a high mortality and disease burden. The COVID-19 outbreak is neither fully understood nor fully pictured. Autopsy studies can help understand the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and has already resulted in better treatment of patients. Structured and systematic autopsy of COVID-19-related deaths will enhance the mapping of pathophysiological pathways, not possible in the living. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity to envision factors translationally for the purpose of disease prevention in this and future pandemics. This is the protocol for an autopsy study that offers an umbrella for deep and diverse investigations of COVID-19-related deaths, including a systematic investigation of ‘long’ COVID-19 by means of extensive and systematic tissue sampling.Methods and analysis A COVID-19-specific autopsy algorithm has been created to cover all cases undergoing clinical or forensic autopsy in Denmark. The algorithm describes advanced tissue sampling and a translational analytical follow-up for deep phenotyping. The translational approach covers registry data, postmortem imaging, gross autopsy findings, microscopic organ changes, postmortem toxicology, postmortem biochemical investigation, microbiological profiling and immunological status at the time of death, and future research projects covering genetics and epigenetics on an organ level.Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by the Regional Ethics Committee of the Region of Greater Copenhagen (No: H-20078436) and the Danish Data Protection Agency (No: 2002-54-1080). Next of kin gave informed consent to research. The study results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration number This study is purely observational and, as such, does not meet the criteria of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors for clinical trials; thus, there is no need for registration in a database of research trials, such as clinical trials. To facilitate cooperation in research, provide transparency on case recruitment for publications to come and to avoid unnecessary duplicate work, we nevertheless wish to publish our protocol.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e049083.full |
| spellingShingle | Jytte Banner Mikkel Jon Henningsen Apameh Khatam-Lashgari Kristine Boisen Olsen Christina Jacobsen Christian Beltoft Brøchner Translational deep phenotyping of deaths related to the COVID-19 pandemic: protocol for a prospective observational autopsy study BMJ Open |
| title | Translational deep phenotyping of deaths related to the COVID-19 pandemic: protocol for a prospective observational autopsy study |
| title_full | Translational deep phenotyping of deaths related to the COVID-19 pandemic: protocol for a prospective observational autopsy study |
| title_fullStr | Translational deep phenotyping of deaths related to the COVID-19 pandemic: protocol for a prospective observational autopsy study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Translational deep phenotyping of deaths related to the COVID-19 pandemic: protocol for a prospective observational autopsy study |
| title_short | Translational deep phenotyping of deaths related to the COVID-19 pandemic: protocol for a prospective observational autopsy study |
| title_sort | translational deep phenotyping of deaths related to the covid 19 pandemic protocol for a prospective observational autopsy study |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e049083.full |
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