Pathology of the thyroid in severe acute respiratory syndrome

Summary The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic started in November 2002 and spread worldwide. The pathological changes in several human organs of patients with SARS have been extensively described. However, to date, little has been reported about the effects of this infection on the t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human pathology 2007-01, Vol.38 (1), p.95-102
Main Authors: Wei, Lan, Sun, Shen, MS, Xu, Cai-hong, MS, Zhang, Jing, Xu, Yun, MS, Zhu, Hong, Peh, Suat-cheng, MD, PhD, Korteweg, Christine, MD, McNutt, Michael A., MD, Gu, Jiang, MD, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Apoptosis
Apoptosis - physiology
Autopsy
Biological and medical sciences
Calcitonin
Calcitonin - analysis
Fatal Outcome
Female
Human viral diseases
Humans
Hypothyroidism
Immune system
Immunohistochemistry
In Situ Nick-End Labeling
Infectious diseases
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Older people
Original Contribution
Pathogenesis
Pathology
Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques
SARS
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - complications
Thyroid
Thyroid Diseases - etiology
Thyroid Diseases - pathology
Thyroid Diseases - physiopathology
Thyroid gland
Thyroid Gland - chemistry
Thyroid Gland - pathology
Thyroid Gland - physiopathology
TUNEL
Viral diseases
Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Summary The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic started in November 2002 and spread worldwide. The pathological changes in several human organs of patients with SARS have been extensively described. However, to date, little has been reported about the effects of this infection on the thyroid gland. Femoral head necrosis and low serum triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels, commonly found in patients with SARS, raise the possibility of thyroid dysfunction. We have undertaken this study to evaluate for any potential injury to the thyroid gland caused by SARS on tissue samples obtained from 5 SARS autopsies. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUPT nick end–labeling assay was performed to identify apoptotic cells. The follicular epithelium was found to be damaged with large numbers of cells exfoliated into the follicle. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUPT nick end–labeling assay demonstrated many cells undergoing apoptosis. Follicular architecture was altered and showed distortion, dilatation, and collapse. No distinct calcitonin-positive cells were detectable in the SARS thyroids. In conclusion, both parafollicular and follicular cells were injured. This may provide an explanation both for low serum triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels and the osteonecrosis of the femoral head associated with patients with SARS. Apoptosis may play a role in the pathogenesis of SARS associated coronavirus infection in the thyroid gland.
ISSN:0046-8177
1532-8392
DOI:10.1016/j.humpath.2006.06.011