Cutaneous Vasculopathy in a COVID-19 Critically Ill Patient: A Histologic, Immunohistochemical, and Electron Microscopy Study

We describe a critically ill, SARS-CoV-2 positive patient with respiratory failure and thrombotic/livedoid skin lesions, appearing during the course of the disease. The biopsy of the lesions revealed an occlusive, pauci-inflammatory vasculopathy of the cutaneous small vessels characterized by comple...

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Main Authors: Anna Kyriakoudi, Konstantinos Pontikis, Athanasios Tsaraklis, Efthymia Soura, Christine Vourlakou, Athanasios Kossyvakis, Efstathia Potamianou, Evangelos Kaniaris, Iliana Ioannidou, Andreas Mentis, Ismini Kloukina, Maria Daganou, Antonia Koutsoukou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Critical Care
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6644853
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author Anna Kyriakoudi
Konstantinos Pontikis
Athanasios Tsaraklis
Efthymia Soura
Christine Vourlakou
Athanasios Kossyvakis
Efstathia Potamianou
Evangelos Kaniaris
Iliana Ioannidou
Andreas Mentis
Ismini Kloukina
Maria Daganou
Antonia Koutsoukou
author_facet Anna Kyriakoudi
Konstantinos Pontikis
Athanasios Tsaraklis
Efthymia Soura
Christine Vourlakou
Athanasios Kossyvakis
Efstathia Potamianou
Evangelos Kaniaris
Iliana Ioannidou
Andreas Mentis
Ismini Kloukina
Maria Daganou
Antonia Koutsoukou
author_sort Anna Kyriakoudi
collection DOAJ
description We describe a critically ill, SARS-CoV-2 positive patient with respiratory failure and thrombotic/livedoid skin lesions, appearing during the course of the disease. The biopsy of the lesions revealed an occlusive, pauci-inflammatory vasculopathy of the cutaneous small vessels characterized by complement and fibrinogen deposition on vascular walls, pointing to a thrombotic vasculopathy. Transmission electron microscopy of the affected skin failed to reveal any viral inclusions. Clinical evaluation and laboratory findings ruled out systemic coagulopathies and disseminated intravascular coagulation, drug-induced skin reaction, and common viral rashes. Our hypothesis is that the, herein evidenced, microvascular occlusive injury might constitute a significant pathologic mechanism in COVID-19, being a common denominator between cutaneous and pulmonary manifestations.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2090-6420
2090-6439
language English
publishDate 2021-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series Case Reports in Critical Care
spelling doaj-art-e5d7ff125aa549b7b6c3e53779dcf72f2025-08-20T03:26:04ZengWileyCase Reports in Critical Care2090-64202090-64392021-01-01202110.1155/2021/66448536644853Cutaneous Vasculopathy in a COVID-19 Critically Ill Patient: A Histologic, Immunohistochemical, and Electron Microscopy StudyAnna Kyriakoudi0Konstantinos Pontikis1Athanasios Tsaraklis2Efthymia Soura3Christine Vourlakou4Athanasios Kossyvakis5Efstathia Potamianou6Evangelos Kaniaris7Iliana Ioannidou8Andreas Mentis9Ismini Kloukina10Maria Daganou11Antonia Koutsoukou12ICU, 1st Department of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Sotiria” Hospital, Athens, GreeceICU, 1st Department of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Sotiria” Hospital, Athens, GreeceDermatology Department, “Sotiria” Hospital, Athens, Greece1st Department of Dermatology-Venereology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Andreas Sygros Hospital, Athens, GreecePathology Department, Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, GreecePublic Health Laboratories, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, GreeceICU, 1st Department of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Sotiria” Hospital, Athens, GreeceICU, 1st Department of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Sotiria” Hospital, Athens, GreeceICU, 1st Department of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Sotiria” Hospital, Athens, GreecePublic Health Laboratories, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, GreeceCenter of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, Athens, GreeceICU, 1st Department of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Sotiria” Hospital, Athens, GreeceICU, 1st Department of Respiratory Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School, “Sotiria” Hospital, Athens, GreeceWe describe a critically ill, SARS-CoV-2 positive patient with respiratory failure and thrombotic/livedoid skin lesions, appearing during the course of the disease. The biopsy of the lesions revealed an occlusive, pauci-inflammatory vasculopathy of the cutaneous small vessels characterized by complement and fibrinogen deposition on vascular walls, pointing to a thrombotic vasculopathy. Transmission electron microscopy of the affected skin failed to reveal any viral inclusions. Clinical evaluation and laboratory findings ruled out systemic coagulopathies and disseminated intravascular coagulation, drug-induced skin reaction, and common viral rashes. Our hypothesis is that the, herein evidenced, microvascular occlusive injury might constitute a significant pathologic mechanism in COVID-19, being a common denominator between cutaneous and pulmonary manifestations.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6644853
spellingShingle Anna Kyriakoudi
Konstantinos Pontikis
Athanasios Tsaraklis
Efthymia Soura
Christine Vourlakou
Athanasios Kossyvakis
Efstathia Potamianou
Evangelos Kaniaris
Iliana Ioannidou
Andreas Mentis
Ismini Kloukina
Maria Daganou
Antonia Koutsoukou
Cutaneous Vasculopathy in a COVID-19 Critically Ill Patient: A Histologic, Immunohistochemical, and Electron Microscopy Study
Case Reports in Critical Care
title Cutaneous Vasculopathy in a COVID-19 Critically Ill Patient: A Histologic, Immunohistochemical, and Electron Microscopy Study
title_full Cutaneous Vasculopathy in a COVID-19 Critically Ill Patient: A Histologic, Immunohistochemical, and Electron Microscopy Study
title_fullStr Cutaneous Vasculopathy in a COVID-19 Critically Ill Patient: A Histologic, Immunohistochemical, and Electron Microscopy Study
title_full_unstemmed Cutaneous Vasculopathy in a COVID-19 Critically Ill Patient: A Histologic, Immunohistochemical, and Electron Microscopy Study
title_short Cutaneous Vasculopathy in a COVID-19 Critically Ill Patient: A Histologic, Immunohistochemical, and Electron Microscopy Study
title_sort cutaneous vasculopathy in a covid 19 critically ill patient a histologic immunohistochemical and electron microscopy study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/6644853
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