%0 Journal Article
%T Fat embolism and COVID-19 infection: autopsy and post-mortem laboratory findings in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients.
%A Gavronova A
%A Hamerlik L
%A Bartkova M
%A Svrchokryl V
%A Kralikova V
%A Vranova K
%A Ondra P
%A Dobias M
%J Biomed Pap Med Fac Univ Palacky Olomouc Czech Repub
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 May 28
%M 38818791
%F 1.648
%R 10.5507/bp.2024.014
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>The article is one of the very first autopsy reports worldwide, which associates COVID-19 infection and pulmonary fat embolism.<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To point to a crucial connection between a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and pulmonary fat embolism as one of the possible major mechanisms of severe COVID-19 symptoms.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Lung, brain and kidney tissues examination of 16 full human autopsy cases. All deceased suffered from COVID-19 infection, none of them was admitted to hospital prior to death, immediate causes of death vary. Autopsies accompanied by microbiological examination and histological examination using Oil Red O staining were performed. Consequently, we have implemented a control cohort consisting of 16 deceased with no presence of pulmonary infection and various immediate causes of death.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>Of the 16 autopsy cases, 11 (68.8%) were males and 5 (31.3%) females, with overall mean age 68.1 (39-86) years. Causes of death of studied subjects were natural, mostly from respiratory failure (in 12 cases, 75%). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed in 7 cases (43.8%). None of dissected persons had larger signs of body trauma. Pulmonary fat embolism was found in 11 cases (68.8%), which generalised to kidneys in 8 patients (50% of all cases, 72.3% of cases with pulmonary fat embolism) and to brain tissue in 1 case.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>We demonstrated a reasonable relation between a COVID-19 disease and a variously severe fat embolism, severity of which does not directly correlate with body weight. Further investigation or even change of medical treatment needs to be considered in patients with COVID-19.