Introduction

In late 2019, a novel human coronavirus, later named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was discovered in Wuhan (China), in cases of fatal pneumonia [1]. Coronaviruses are known to induce a wide range of pathology ranging from common cold to severe acute respiratory syndrome. Most of the viruses present in the family of Coronaviridae are known to induce primarily self-limited upper respiratory diseases with the exceptions of two Betacoronaviruses, namely SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The former was responsible for a pandemic of viral pneumonia which began in the Guangdong province (China) in late 2002 and peaked globally in the early 2003. The latter was discovered in 2012 and was responsible for cases of fatal viral pneumonia mainly in the Arabic peninsula, especially in Saudi Arabia. In late December 2019, SARS-CoV-2 was related to cases of fatal viral pneumonia. Since then, the virus rapidly spread worldwide and caused a new pandemic. To date, only limited data is available regarding the lung pathology induced by SARS-CoV-2. Forensic investigations continue to be necessary during COVID-19 pandemic when the manner of death is violent or undetermined. In mid-March 2020, our Center was confronted for the first time to the case of a potentially infected young woman who collapsed at home during confinement. No specific diagnosis was made before death. We present here the results of an exceptional case of forensic autopsy, showing extremely severe lung lesions of a COVID-19 disease diagnosed on post-mortem samples. This is to our knowledge, the first forensic autopsy performed on a young woman who died at home during confinement and was later diagnosed with COVID-19 disease.

Case presentation

A 31-year-old woman was found unconscious in her flat during the COVID-19 pandemic. Antitussive opioid sirup and ibuprofen were found at death scene. Paramedics called on site performed 30 min of unsuccessful resuscitation maneuvers before the patient was pronounced dead. The police was called because of the young age of the victim. According to preliminary police investigation, the woman was still alive approximatively two and a half hours before her body was found unconscious. She suffered from morbid obesity. Seven days prior to death, she started presenting cough. She attended medical attention twice in the previous days and was confined at home since then. The deceased worked as a cashier in a department store.

During the death scene investigation performed by the forensic pathologist, a rectal temperature of 41.4 °C was measured 2 h after death. A medico-legal autopsy was ordered by the public prosecutor and was performed the day after at the University Center of Legal Medicine in Geneva, Switzerland. Available recommendations for autopsy practice in suspected cases of COVID-19 were applied [2]. Practically, post-mortem examination was performed in an autopsy room specially designed to perform investigations on infectious cases with highly renewable positive-pressure ventilation and down-draft tables. Autopsy staff was reduced to a minimum (resident, supervisor, and technician) with transfer airlock adjacent to the autopsy room. The staff was adequately trained and wore appropriate personnel protective equipment (surgical scrub suit, surgical hat, eye protection glasses, FFP3 mask, waterproof gown including forearms, rubber boots, and cut-resistant gloves).

Post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) revealed diffuse, bilateral ground-glass opacities associated with panlobar air space consolidations, and air bronchograms.

Gross autopsy findings included morbid obesity (height 167 cm; weight 170.7 kg; body mass index of 61.2 kg/m2), heavy lungs grossly firm and rubbery (1220 g right; 1000 g left) with hemorrhagic edema bilaterally, tracheobronchial and pleural effusion, petechiae of the skin, and signs of shock (petechial hemorrhages of the visceral and parietal serosa of the abdomen, variegated “nutmeg” liver appearance, cortical pallor with medullary congestion of the kidneys). Cut sections of the lungs revealed heterogeneous areas of whitish consolidation without any purulent discharge. Heart weight normalized for BMI was normal (460 g) with wall thickness of 1.3 cm at the left ventricle and interventricular septum and 0.3 cm at the right ventricle. Fatty streaks were noticed at the anterior interventricular branch of left coronary artery and carotid bifurcations. No signs of meningitis or encephalitis were found at gross examination or microscopic investigation.

Histology of the lungs showed alveolar damage with a geographically heterogeneous pattern, the central part of the lungs being mostly affected (Fig. 1a). Alveolar compartment showed mainly edema, diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) in his exudative phase with the presence of hyaline membranes in some alveoli (Fig. 1c), deposit of fibrin as cotton wools within the alveoli (Fig. 1b), and moderate type II pneumocytes hyperplasia which were mainly desquamated (Fig. 2a). In the alveolar exudate, there were also moderate amount of intra-alveolar macrophages (Fig. 2c) and only scant polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and lymphocytes. Focal areas of intraalveaolar hemorrhage and bacterial proliferation were also present. No viral inclusions or giant multinucleated cells were noted. Interstitial compartment showed edema, vascular stasis, lympho-monocytic infiltrates (majority of T lymphocytes (CD3+, Fig. 2d) over monocytes and exempt of B lymphocytes (CD20+)), and abundant megakaryocytes. Within the alveolar septa and mainly into the capillaries, abundant PMN were also seen, indicating margination and diapedesis. No signs of increased collagen deposition within the alveoli or the intersitium were noticed (Masson trichrome stain). Bronchi and bronchioles showed only minimal lymphocytic infiltrates within their walls and did not display any sign of mucosal necrosis. Histological analysis of other organs showed mild chronic tracheitis and microabscesses in the liver parenchyma. At microscopy, we did not observe any signs of cardiac hypertrophy.

Fig. 1
figure 1

a Upper right lobe lung parenchyma showing geographical heterogeneity of pulmonary lesions, with two samples of lung parenchyma in contact. The central sample is at the bottom presenting diffuse filling of the alveolar space with fibrin and the peripheral sample is at the top (black star) with clear open alveolar space. Arrow indicate visceral pleura (acid fuchsin–orange G stain (SFOG), × 20). b Magnification of diffuse filling of the alveolar space with fibrin (acid fuchsin–orange G stain (SFOG), × 100). c Hyaline membranes (black arrows) indicating diffuse alveolar damage (hematoxylin and eosin, × 100)

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Fig. 2
figure 2

a Moderate type II pneumocytes hyperplasia (black arrows) with some desquamation (pankeratin, × 200). b Unaffected area of lung parenchyma with normal pneumocytes I and II morphology (pankeratin, × 200). c Moderate intra-alveolar macrophages (CD68, × 200). d Moderate amount of T lymphocytes infiltration in the interstitium (CD3, × 100)

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Post-mortem microbiological (bacterial and virological) analysis was performed. A lower respiratory tract (tracheobronchial) swab was performed and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time reverse transcription PCR (rRT-PCR), with a threshold cycle (Ct) value of 21.4 (E gene, Tib-Molbiol assay). An rRT-PCR-based respiratory virus panel run on the same specimen, detecting influenza viruses A and B, respiratory syncytial virus A and B, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, rhinoviruses, bocavirus, other coronaviruses (OC43, NL63, 229E and HKU1), and parainfluenza viruses 1–4, was negative. Bacterial analysis performed on blood, lungs, liver, spleen, and cerebrospinal fluid revealed mixed flora. Post-mortem biochemistry was indicative of an inflammatory process with elevated C-reactive protein of 48 mg/l (normal value ≤ 10 mg/l), without an elevated procalcitonin value (0.06 μg/l). Dextromethorphan was found in blood screening.

At the end of the procedure, the body was placed in a hygienic sanitary bag according to standard internal procedures, applying additional specific contact avoiding measures. According to local recommendations edited by our local hygiene, infection control, and prevention team, cleanup techniques of the autopsy room did not differ from usual ones.

Discussion

SARS-CoV-2 is known to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome. To date, only few data regarding SARS-CoV-2-related lung pathology are available [3,4,5] and mainly based on surgical material [5], post-mortem biopsies [4], or minimal invasive autopsy [3]. To our knowledge, we report here the first case of a forensic autopsy of a young COVID-19 fatality diagnosed at necropsy without any medical intervention interfering with the natural evolution of the disease. Lung pathology revealed DAD and interstitial pneumonia. The pattern of injury was geographically heterogeneous affecting primarily central parts of the lungs and preserving the peripheral parts. An early phase of secondary bacterial infection was noticed within the alveoli, with margination of PMNs. Abundant megakaryocytes can also be explained by the early stage of infection, reflecting release of hemopoietic cells by the bone marrow. However, according to the post-mortem biochemistry, death was attributed to pulmonary changes related to SARS-CoV-2 and high fever without implication of a secondary bacterial infection (low procalcitonin value).

Overall, our findings are in agreement with those described in literature regarding SARS-CoV-2 infection [4]. Some features were however different, such as the absence of multinucleated syncytial cells [3,4,5], fibroblastic plugs [5], or hyaline thrombi in microvessels [3]. The lesions induced by SARS-CoV-2 were similar to those caused by other members of the Coronaviridae family, especially the Betacoronaviruses SARS-CoV [6, 7] and MERS-CoV [8]. One particular element we observed was the complete absence of B lymphocytes within the interstitial compartment despite the lympho-monocytic infiltrate. This finding is in line with the idea that the immune response in the lung parenchyma is mainly mediated by T lymphocytes [9]. However, whether this feature is also present in other cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection or in other types of Betacoronaviruses lung infections remains unclear.

To date, several modes of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been proposed such as respiratory droplets, contact routes, airborne transmission, and theoretically by oral-fecal transmission. In the present case, because of the professional activity of the victim (cashier in a department store), the presumed mode of transmission was by respiratory droplets or contact based.

We recommend that forensic institutes performing autopsies on suspected COVID-19 cases follow appropriate guidelines for this type of procedure [2]. As such, autopsy should be performed preferably in an infectious diseases dedicated and equipped room, with staff kept to a minimum, adequately trained, and geared with personnel protective equipment.

This community death of a young woman related to COVID-19 pathology highlights the heterogeneity and severity of central lung lesions after natural evolution of the disease in conditions of confinement.