Pathological Effects of COVID-19 on Body Organs

The SARS-COV-2 virus is the cause of the 2020 pandemic that has infected and killed millions worldwide. While the upper respiratory tract cells are the primary targets of COVID-19, the virus can infiltrate other tissues and organs, leading to potentially serious complications. The new coronavirus primarily affects angiotensin II receptor and cytokine pathways, which can result in acute pulmonary inflammation, pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, vascular endothelial dysfunction, pulmonary embolism in the lungs, and cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, heart failure, and intravenous thrombosis in the heart. COVID-19 infection can be associated with gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Also, reports of mild and transient liver damage, polyneuropathy, encephalitis, stroke, acute renal failure, hypocortisolism, and damage to the hypothalamus and pituitary system are available. COVID-19 can also be associated with skin symptoms such as rash, urticaria, maculopapular lesions, and vascular lesions such as chill blain, petechiae purpura, and scalpopathy. This narrative review evaluates the pathogenesis of novel coronavirus on body organs based on relevant published papers and reference books.