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"Analysis of seemingly recovered COVID-19 patients indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection can persist significantly longer than suggested by PCR-negative tests
The post-mortem analysis of lung tissue samples revealed that about 81% of patients had interstitial pneumonia. In 48% of patients, pneumonia was severe and caused death. The most prominent characteristics of pneumonia in these patients were severe alveolar damage, immune cell infiltration, and extensive fibrotic substitution
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Overall, these observations indicate that pathological changes noted in these patients are not significantly different from that observed in patients with acute infection. In other words, despite persistently not having detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory samples for a long period, these patients represent clinical features similar to acute infection with detectable viral RNA.
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Interestingly, virus-infected cells have been detected in specific lung regions of these patients, including the para-bronchial glands and bronchial cartilage. As mentioned by the scientists, the long-term presence of specific virus-infected cells could cause pathological lung changes by maintaining a pro-inflammatory, immunoreactive, and pro-thrombogenic status. Further studies are required to establish the relationship between persistently infected cells and the development of long-COVID."
The post-mortem analysis of lung tissue samples revealed that about 81% of patients had interstitial pneumonia. In 48% of patients, pneumonia was severe and caused death. The most prominent characteristics of pneumonia in these patients were severe alveolar damage, immune cell infiltration, and extensive fibrotic substitution
...
Overall, these observations indicate that pathological changes noted in these patients are not significantly different from that observed in patients with acute infection. In other words, despite persistently not having detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA in respiratory samples for a long period, these patients represent clinical features similar to acute infection with detectable viral RNA.
...
Interestingly, virus-infected cells have been detected in specific lung regions of these patients, including the para-bronchial glands and bronchial cartilage. As mentioned by the scientists, the long-term presence of specific virus-infected cells could cause pathological lung changes by maintaining a pro-inflammatory, immunoreactive, and pro-thrombogenic status. Further studies are required to establish the relationship between persistently infected cells and the development of long-COVID."
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