Lesions of the heart and parenchymatous organs in patients with COVID-19 and other acute respiratory infections

Abstract

Based on available literature, this study aimed to critically assess the effect of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses on the heart and parenchymatous internal organs, identify their common and distinctive features, assess the frequency of cytokine storm and “post-infection” syndrome, and identify risk factors for severe systemic reaction and damage to internal organs, particularly the heart. In the databases of MEDLINE/PubMed, eLibrary, Web of Science, CyberLeninka, and Openmedcom.ru, primary information (full-text and abstract databases) in English and Russian was searched using selected keywords from 2003 to 2023. Acute respiratory viral infection pathogens can cause not only respiratory but also cardinal, gastroenterological, neurological, and other complications. Acute respiratory viral infections have many similarities in their effects on parenchymal organs. The emergence of new viruses requires in-depth study, and it is important to consider both the distinctive features of the clinical picture of viral infections and the general patterns of influence on internal organs. In the medium term, patients who have COVID-19 may have complex heart damage in the form of a decrease in ventricular ejection fraction, appearance of pericardial effusion, and development of various types of focal myocardial lesions. The combined nature of damage to the heart and parenchymal organs is influenced by background diseases, nature of the course of viral infection, and features of therapy. The features of lesions of parenchymal organs and the heart after acute respiratory viral infection require further study, including their effect on the development of late complications.