Hassan, W., Ramadan, H., Omran, G. (2021). The Spleen as an Extrapulmonary Target of COVID-19.. Afro-Egyptian Journal of Infectious and Endemic Diseases, 11(1), 96-99. doi: 10.21608/aeji.2021.60611.1133
Wesam Hassan; Haidi Ramadan; Ghada Omran. "The Spleen as an Extrapulmonary Target of COVID-19.". Afro-Egyptian Journal of Infectious and Endemic Diseases, 11, 1, 2021, 96-99. doi: 10.21608/aeji.2021.60611.1133
Hassan, W., Ramadan, H., Omran, G. (2021). 'The Spleen as an Extrapulmonary Target of COVID-19.', Afro-Egyptian Journal of Infectious and Endemic Diseases, 11(1), pp. 96-99. doi: 10.21608/aeji.2021.60611.1133
Hassan, W., Ramadan, H., Omran, G. The Spleen as an Extrapulmonary Target of COVID-19.. Afro-Egyptian Journal of Infectious and Endemic Diseases, 2021; 11(1): 96-99. doi: 10.21608/aeji.2021.60611.1133
The Spleen as an Extrapulmonary Target of COVID-19.
1Assiut Center for Viral Hepatitis Management, Ministry of Health, Assiut, Egypt.
2Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department, Assiut University, Assiut,Egypt.
3Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut , Egypt.
Abstract
The spleen has been recently reported as one of the unusual extrapulmonary organs that can be affected by COVID-19. Different splenic lesions were described in COVID-19 patients. Herein, we summarize a few recent reports that have described splenic lesions in association with COVID-19. Splenic infarction was reported frequently, ruptured spleen and splenic abscess were also reported. Splenic involvement in COVID -19 can be caused through direct virus damage of the spleen and/or COVID-19 induced microvascular thrombosis and vasculitis.The hypercoagulable state induced by COVID-19 virus lead to splenic artery or vein thrombosis and splenic infarction development due to splenic hypoperfusion. The spleen may be an extrapulmonary target of COVID-19 virus and abdominal pain is alarming in COVID-19 infection, it may indicate a serious condition. Computed tomography (CT) abdomen is helpful in diagnosis of splenic complications secondary to COVID-19. Early diagnosis and intervention is life saving in most of these patients. Emergency surgical laparotomy and splenectomy is life-saving in these cases.