M F Landecho1,2, J R Yuste1,2,3, E Gándara4, P Sunsundegui1,2, J Quiroga1,2,5, A B Alcaide1,6, A García-Layana4. 1. From the, Covid19 Department, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. 2. Internal Medicine Department, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. 3. Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Division, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. 4. Ophtalmology Department, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. 5. CIBEREHD. 6. Pulmonary Medicine Department, Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.
Abstract
IMPORTANCE: COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a betacoronavirus that uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme-related carboxypeptidase (ACE2) receptor to gain entry into cells. ACE2 receptor is widely expressed in multiple organs, including the retina, an extension of the central nervous system. The ACE2 receptor is involved in the diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy. Additionally, coronaviruses cause ocular infections in animals, including retinitis, and optic neuritis. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether there is any retinal disease associated with COVID-19. DESIGN: We have evaluated 27 asymptomatic subjects, with retinal fundoscopic, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography fourteen days after hospital discharge due to COVID-19 bilateral pneumonia. RESULTS: Cotton wool exudates were evident in six out of 27 patients evaluated, a 22%. Cotton wool exudates are a marker vascular disease severity in other medical context, that is diabetes and hypertension, and are associated with increased risk for acute vascular events. Whether antiaggregation therapy may play a role on fundoscopic-selected patients with COVID-19 requires prospective trials.
IMPORTANCE: COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a betacoronavirus that uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme-related carboxypeptidase (ACE2) receptor to gain entry into cells. ACE2 receptor is widely expressed in multiple organs, including the retina, an extension of the central nervous system. The ACE2 receptor is involved in the diabetic and hypertensive retinopathy. Additionally, coronaviruses cause ocular infections in animals, including retinitis, and optic neuritis. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether there is any retinal disease associated with COVID-19. DESIGN: We have evaluated 27 asymptomatic subjects, with retinal fundoscopic, optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography fourteen days after hospital discharge due to COVID-19 bilateral pneumonia. RESULTS: Cotton wool exudates were evident in six out of 27 patients evaluated, a 22%. Cotton wool exudates are a marker vascular disease severity in other medical context, that is diabetes and hypertension, and are associated with increased risk for acute vascular events. Whether antiaggregation therapy may play a role on fundoscopic-selected patients with COVID-19 requires prospective trials.
Authors: Jessica G Shantha; Sara C Auld; Casey Anthony; Laura Ward; Max W Adelman; Cheryl L Maier; Kenneth W Price; Jesse T Jacob; Tolulope Fashina; Casey Randleman; Lucy T Xu; Joshua Barnett; Ofer Sadan; Prem A Kandiah; Jay B Varkey; Colleen S Kraft; Nadine Rouphael; Susanne Linderman; Rafi Ahmed; Carolyn Drews-Botsch; Jesse J Waggoner; Max Weinmann; David J Murphy; Steven Yeh Journal: Ocul Immunol Inflamm Date: 2021-08-31 Impact factor: 3.728
Authors: Valentina Bilbao-Malavé; Jorge González-Zamora; Manuel Saenz de Viteri; Miriam de la Puente; Elsa Gándara; Anna Casablanca-Piñera; Claudia Boquera-Ventosa; Javier Zarranz-Ventura; Manuel F Landecho; Alfredo García-Layana Journal: Biomedicines Date: 2021-05-02
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