Pathophysiology of COVID-19: Mechanisms Underlying Disease Severity and Progression
Mary Kathryn Bohn, Alexandra Hall, Lusia Sepiashvili, Benjamin Jung, Shannon Steele, Khosrow Adeli
Abstract
The global epidemiology of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) suggests a wide spectrum of clinical severity, ranging from asymptomatic to fatal. Although the clinical and laboratory characteristics of COVID-19 patients have been well characterized, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying disease severity and progression remain unclear. This review highlights key mechanisms that have been proposed to contribute to COVID-19 progression from viral entry to multisystem organ failure, as well as the central role of the immune response in successful viral clearance or progression to death.
Topics & Concepts
PathophysiologyAsymptomaticDiseaseCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)MedicineSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Immune systemCoronavirus2019-20 coronavirus outbreakImmunologyVirologyPathologyInfectious disease (medical specialty)OutbreakCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchLong-Term Effects of COVID-19