Neutrophil Extracellular Traps, Local IL-8 Expression, and Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Response in the Lungs of Patients With Fatal COVID-19.

Background: Excessive inflammation is pathogenic in the pneumonitis associated with severe COVID-19. Neutrophils are among the most abundantly present leukocytes in the inflammatory infiltrates and may form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) under the local influence of cytokines. NETs constitute a defense mechanism against bacteria, but have also been shown to mediate tissue damage in a number of diseases.

Histopathological findings in fatal COVID-19 severe acute respiratory syndrome: preliminary experience from a series of 10 Spanish patients.

In December 2019, an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome associated to SARS-CoV2 was reported in Wuhan, China. To date, little is known on histopathological findings in patients infected with the new SARS-CoV2. Lung histopathology shows features of acute and organising diffuse alveolar damage.