Indian Journal of Health Sciences and Care

Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel coronavirus pneumonia, first occurred in Wuhan, China and later spread all over the world. Data on pathologic changes from COVID-19 are limited. In order to gain knowledge about the pathology that contributes to disease progression and mortality, postmortem needle core biopsies were performed in certain cities. Countries having facility of postmortem examination of contagious diseases, performed selective postmortem examination. Lung, liver, heart and kidney were examined in detail both by light microscopy and by immunofluorescence and immune histochemistry. Isolation of virus from postmortem specimens was not always possible due to poor preservation of tissues. Histologically main findings were noticed in lungs including hyaline membrane formation, consolidation and hyperplasia of pneumocytes. In liver, mild lobular inflammation and patchy focal necrosis was seen. Heart exhibited isolated myocardial necrosis and fibrosis. In kidney changes were predominantly seen in proximal tubules.