Morphological changes of the kidneys and liver in patients with COVID-19

Abstract

COVID-19 has a pronounced adverse effect on the structure and hemodynamics of human kidneys and liver at the macroscopic and microscopic levels. Leading pathological changes of kidneys are necrotic nephrosis, of liver are fatty degeneration and stasis in the bile capillaries. These pathomorphological changes confirm the systemic nature of lesions in patients with severe COVID-19 associated with pathogenetic links such as cytokine storm, hypoxia, hypovolemia, coagulation disorders, effects of drug therapy and direct cytolytic action of the virus on target cells.