Work experience bureau of forensic medicine of Moscow region in the context of a pandemic caused by a new coronavirus infection

Background: The article presents the results of studying cases of deaths of individuals from a new coronavirus infection according to forensic research. Aims: The aim of the study was to generalize and identify patterns of damage to internal organs and body systems in cases of death caused by COVID-19 without medical assistance based on the study results of forensic research of corpses. Results: A total of 198 cases of fatal outcomes from a new coronavirus infection was studied. The frequency of fatal outcomes was determined in various age groups. The leading morphological manifestations of internal organ lesions were established. Absolute (abs) and relative (%) frequencies were calculated for qualitative variables. The lungs were found to be most susceptible to changes. In 77.8% of cases, pathological changes corresponded to the acute phase of diffuse alveolar damage. In addition to lung damage, the most common sign was the depletion of spleen parenchyma by lymphocytes, indicating an immune inflammatory response of the body. Conclusion: The identified characteristic morphological signs of alveolar lung damage in COVID-19 can be used as a differential diagnosis of lung damage from shocks of other etiology.