Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 in Postmortem Ocular Tissues and Evaluation of Its Effects on Corneal Donation
Cornea, cilt.41, sa.10, ss.1265-1270, 2022 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 41 Sayı: 10
- Basım Tarihi: 2022
- Doi Numarası: 10.1097/ico.0000000000003093
- Dergi Adı: Cornea
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, CAB Abstracts, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Veterinary Science Database
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1265-1270
- Anahtar Kelimeler: corneal donation, COVID-19, nasopharyngeal swab, conjunctival swab
- Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Purpose:The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of viruses in postmortem nasopharyngeal swabs and ocular tissues of patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) confirmed through an antemortem reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.Methods:We recorded demographic data, comorbidities, treatments, and vaccination status of the patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and monitored in the intensive care unit. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected from the patients within 2 hours postmortem followed by swabs from both eyes, lower and upper conjunctival sacs, corneal epithelial layer, and samples from anterior chamber fluid. The geneMAP 2019-nCoV severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection kit was used to detect the samples showing the presence of SARS-CoV-2.Results:Among the 47 patients (mean age 74 years, range 39-92) included in the study, 29 were men and 18 were women. The nasopharyngeal swab samples of 21 patients were positive for the RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, whereas at least one of the ocular tissue samples in 6 of those patients were positive for the RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2. However, all ocular swab samples were tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 in the 26 patients with negative nasopharyngeal swab samples. The mean duration from COVID-19 diagnosis to mortality was 10 days (range 2-27 days) in patients with positive postmortem nasopharyngeal swab samples for SARS-CoV-2, compared with an average of 21 days (1-80 days) in patients who tested negative. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.01).Conclusions:Cadavers with negative postmortem nasopharyngeal swab samples for SARS-CoV-2 and those with the time from diagnosis to death of >3 weeks may be considered as candidates for corneal donation.