Ultrastructural Evidence of Direct Viral Damage to the Olfactory Complex in Patients Testing Positive for SARS-CoV-2
Patrizia Morbini, Marco Benazzo, Laura Verga, Fabio Pagella, Francesco Mojoli, Raffaele Bruno, Carlo Marena
Abstract
Ultrastructural Evidence of Direct Viral Damage to the Olfactory Complex in Patients Testing Positive for SARS-CoV-2Neurological manifestations are common in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially in those with severe disease. 1 The mechanisms underlying neuromuscular damage are the objects of substantial scientific research and speculation.We report the clinicopathologic and ultrastructural postmortem findings observed in the olfactory system of 2 patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-positive nasal swabs who underwent minimally invasive autopsy, including nasal endoscopic dissection of the olfactory complex.