Acute upper gastrointestinal mucosal lesions caused by COVID-19 infection: a case report
BackgroundCOVID-19 enters human cells by binding its surface protein to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) present in the host. ACE2 is expressed in various organ cells in the human body. Consequently, SARS-CoV-2 can invade gastrointestinal epithelial cells through ACE2, leading to the manifesta...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1618638/full |
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| author | Ze Qi Bing-Jie Yan Ruo-Han Hu Lei Li |
| author_facet | Ze Qi Bing-Jie Yan Ruo-Han Hu Lei Li |
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| description | BackgroundCOVID-19 enters human cells by binding its surface protein to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) present in the host. ACE2 is expressed in various organ cells in the human body. Consequently, SARS-CoV-2 can invade gastrointestinal epithelial cells through ACE2, leading to the manifestation of gastrointestinal symptoms. However, the occurrence of gastrointestinal mucosal lesions and bleeding is rare.Case summaryA 34-year-old man with no previous medical history was hospitalized due to two weeks of nausea, hematemesis, and one week of fever. Gastroscopy showed widespread inflammation and necrotic tissue in the stomach, suggesting erosive hemorrhagic gastritis. Laboratory tests confirmed COVID-19 infection and blood hypercoagulability. After treatment, the patient was discharged. Follow-up gastroscopy showed mucosal lesion healing after recovery from COVID-19.ConclusionThe patient underwent endoscopy and pathological analysis. ACE2 immunohistochemistry was performed on the pathological tissues to investigate the cause of the lesions. After ruling out other possible factors, the final results indicated that the patient’s gastric mucosal lesion was caused by COVID-19 infection. This suggests that further research on COVID-19 should consider its gastrointestinal symptoms and diseases. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-59b1852592b04787b41debcee26a2ed1 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-59b1852592b04787b41debcee26a2ed12025-08-20T03:09:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-07-011210.3389/fmed.2025.16186381618638Acute upper gastrointestinal mucosal lesions caused by COVID-19 infection: a case reportZe Qi0Bing-Jie Yan1Ruo-Han Hu2Lei Li3Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, ChinaShandong Second Medical University, Weifang, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, ChinaBackgroundCOVID-19 enters human cells by binding its surface protein to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) present in the host. ACE2 is expressed in various organ cells in the human body. Consequently, SARS-CoV-2 can invade gastrointestinal epithelial cells through ACE2, leading to the manifestation of gastrointestinal symptoms. However, the occurrence of gastrointestinal mucosal lesions and bleeding is rare.Case summaryA 34-year-old man with no previous medical history was hospitalized due to two weeks of nausea, hematemesis, and one week of fever. Gastroscopy showed widespread inflammation and necrotic tissue in the stomach, suggesting erosive hemorrhagic gastritis. Laboratory tests confirmed COVID-19 infection and blood hypercoagulability. After treatment, the patient was discharged. Follow-up gastroscopy showed mucosal lesion healing after recovery from COVID-19.ConclusionThe patient underwent endoscopy and pathological analysis. ACE2 immunohistochemistry was performed on the pathological tissues to investigate the cause of the lesions. After ruling out other possible factors, the final results indicated that the patient’s gastric mucosal lesion was caused by COVID-19 infection. This suggests that further research on COVID-19 should consider its gastrointestinal symptoms and diseases.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1618638/fullCOVID-19COVID-19 pandemicSARS-CoV-2 virusACE2digestive system infectionacute upper gastrointestinal mucosal lesions |
| spellingShingle | Ze Qi Bing-Jie Yan Ruo-Han Hu Lei Li Acute upper gastrointestinal mucosal lesions caused by COVID-19 infection: a case report Frontiers in Medicine COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic SARS-CoV-2 virus ACE2 digestive system infection acute upper gastrointestinal mucosal lesions |
| title | Acute upper gastrointestinal mucosal lesions caused by COVID-19 infection: a case report |
| title_full | Acute upper gastrointestinal mucosal lesions caused by COVID-19 infection: a case report |
| title_fullStr | Acute upper gastrointestinal mucosal lesions caused by COVID-19 infection: a case report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Acute upper gastrointestinal mucosal lesions caused by COVID-19 infection: a case report |
| title_short | Acute upper gastrointestinal mucosal lesions caused by COVID-19 infection: a case report |
| title_sort | acute upper gastrointestinal mucosal lesions caused by covid 19 infection a case report |
| topic | COVID-19 COVID-19 pandemic SARS-CoV-2 virus ACE2 digestive system infection acute upper gastrointestinal mucosal lesions |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1618638/full |
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