Abstract
Purpose: The SARS-CoV-2 genome has been detected in a variety of human samples including blood, urine, semen, and faeces. However, evidence of virus presence in tissues other than lung are limited.
Methods: We investigated whether SARS-CoV-2 could be detected in 50 autoptic specimens of endocrine organs from 29 patients who died of COVID-19.
Results: The virus was detected in 25 specimens including ten abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue samples (62%), six testes (67%), and nine thyroid (36%) samples. The analysis of multiple endocrine organ samples obtained from the same patients showed that, in virus-positive cases, the viral genome was consistently detected in all but two matched specimens.
Conclusion: Our findings show that the virus spread into endocrine organs is a common event in severe cases. Further studies should assess the rate of the phenomenon in clinically mild cases. The potential long-term effects of COVID-19 on endocrine functions should be taken into consideration.
Keywords: Adipose tissue; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Testis; Thyroid.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Thyroid, Adipose tissue, Testis, 【초록키워드】 lung, virus, Viral, SARS-CoV-2 genome, Patient, severe cases, Urine, Thyroid, Semen, specimens, function, Blood, Adipose tissue, Testis, Evidence, Analysis, Endocrine, viral genome, Faeces, evidence of, endocrine organ, endocrine organs, tissue, tissues, phenomenon, virus spread, mild cases, specimen, organ, adipose, Effect, died, investigated, clinically, nine, tissue sample, variety, 【제목키워드】 virus, Autopsy, Endocrine, tissue,