Cutaneous manifestations associated with anosmia, ageusia and enteritis in SARS-CoV-2 infection – A possible pattern? Observational study and review of the literature. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Birlutiu, Victoria; Feiereisz, Alin Iulian; Oprinca, George; Dobritoiu, Simona; Rotaru, Maria; Birlutiu, Rares Mircea; Iancu, Gabriela Mariana
• Is Part Of: International journal of infectious diseases. Volume 107(2021)
• Page Start: 72
• Page End: 77
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: SARS-CoV-2 infection -- COVID-19 -- Cutaneous manifestations -- Lesions -- Biopsy; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.04.058
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1201-9712

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The cutaneous manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been covered insufficiently in the literature. Methods: Thirty-nine patients admitted to the study hospital with confirmed COVID-19 who experienced various skin manifestations during hospitalization or in the convalescence period, were analysed retrospectively. Results: Thirty-nine patients with COVID-19, admitted to the study hospital between 23 March and 12 September 2020, had intra-infectious rash or lesions of cutaneous vasculitis during convalescence. The most common cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 were erythematous and erythematous papular rash. Twenty-seven of the 39 patients had anosmia (69.2%), 26 patients had ageusia (66.7%), 34 patients had pneumonia (87.2%) and 24 patients had intra-infectious enterocolitis (61.5%). Skin biopsies were rarely performed in these patients. This article reports the results of biopsies performed in two patients, showing histopathological and immunohistochemical changes in erythematous rash and erythema multiforme-like lesions. Both skin biopsies revealed early fibrous remodelling of the dermis, suggesting similarity with changes that occur in the lungs and other tissues in patients with COVID-19. Conclusions: Correlations between skin lesions and anosmia, ageusia and enteritis in patients with COVID-19 do not seem to be accidental, but are associated with a similar response to ACE2 receptor expression in these tissues.