Extrapulmonary complications of COVID-19: A multisystem disease?

J Med Virol. 2021 Jan;93(1):323-335. doi: 10.1002/jmv.26294. Epub 2020 Jul 22.

Abstract

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been recently declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. In addition to its acute respiratory manifestations, SARS-CoV-2 may also adversely affect other organ systems. To date, however, there is a very limited understanding of the extent and management of COVID-19-related conditions outside of the pulmonary system. This narrative review provides an overview of the current literature about the extrapulmonary manifestations of COVID-19 that may affect the urinary, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hematological, hematopoietic, neurological, or reproductive systems. This review also describes the current understanding of the extrapulmonary complications caused by COVID-19 to improve the management and prognosis of patients with COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; extrapulmonary manifestations; management.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 / complications*
  • COVID-19 / physiopathology*
  • Cardiovascular Infections / virology
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases / virology
  • Hematologic Diseases / virology
  • Humans
  • Nervous System Diseases / virology
  • Reproductive Tract Infections / virology
  • Urologic Diseases / virology