Open AccessProgressive pulmonary fibrosis due to diffuse alveolar damage in a COVID ‐19‐infected autopsy case
Author(s) -
Tamura Akiko,
Imai Ryosuke,
Tomishima Yutaka,
Nishimura Naoki
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
respirology case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2051-3380
DOI - 10.1002/rcr2.934
Subject(s) - diffuse alveolar damage , medicine , autopsy , pneumonia , ards , covid-19 , pulmonary fibrosis , mechanical ventilation , respiratory distress , lung , acute respiratory distress , fibrosis , pathology , respiratory system , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , surgery
We encountered a patient with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19)‐related pneumonia, who died of progressive respiratory acidosis after 2 months of treatment with mechanical ventilation. The autopsy revealed diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) without any active signs of fungal or bacterial infections, suggesting prolonged and over‐activated immune responses against COVID‐19 infection. When COVID‐19 patients develop acute respiratory distress syndrome, it is essential to remember that the infection can progress to DAD a few months after the disease onset.