DiscussionTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of the pathological featuresof renal injury in the setting of COVID-19 outside autopsies series. The most striking findingin our patient was the collapsing FSGS. This finding suggests that FSGS could account for theheavy proteinuria reported in a significant proportion of patients with COVID-191. Thecollapsing FSGS is a known complication of other viral infections, in particular the humanimmunodeficiency virus (HIV)4, but also the cytomegalovirus5 and the parvovirus B196. ForHIV a direct toxic viral effect on podocytes has been documented7. The receptor for SARSCoV-2, membrane-bound angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), is expressed onpodocytes8,9. PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was negative in kidney biopsy samples, but the techniquehas a notoriously low rate of detection in non-respiratory samples (including blood andurine)10 and the quality of the extracted RNA material was poor. However, in our patient’scase, the presence of viral particles in the podocytes, revealed by electron microscopy study,strongly suggests a direct toxic viral effect on podocytes.Collapsing FSGS, with or without acute tubular necrosis, can also complicate thecourse of hemophagocytic syndrome11, a disorder characterized by an increased release of awide range of cytokines. In our patient, normal levels of cytokines, in particular IL6, whilstinflammation markers were still increased, plead against this hypothesis. However, a potentialvirus-driven intra-renal cytokines release cannot be excluded.Besides, since our patient is of African origin, it cannot be excluded that APOL1variant may have contributed to the pathogenesis of collapsing FSGS, since APOL1 is arecognized risk factor for the development collapsing FSGS in HIV and non-HIV patients4.In our patient, acute tubular necrosis developed in the absence of hemodynamiccompromise or severe pulmonary involvement. This suggests that tubular injury in COVID-19 patients, unlike that seen in coronavirus-associated severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS)12, is not predominantly ischemic. The possible underlying mechanisms are a directviral toxicity on tubular cells that also harbour ACE2 or a cytokine-mediated tubular damage.In addition, the initial heavy proteinuria in our patient may have also contributed to tubularnecrosis.Overall, in contrast to lung injury, kidney injury in COVID-19 does not appear toinclude a predominant inflammatory component. This observation suggests that collapsingFSGS, potentially resulting from a direct viral effect on podocytes, probably belongs to thespectrum of COVID-19-associated renal involvement.
Discussion<br>To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of the pathological features<br>of renal injury in the setting of COVID-19 outside autopsies series. The most striking finding<br>in our patient was the collapsing FSGS. This finding suggests that FSGS could account for the<br>heavy proteinuria reported in a significant proportion of patients with COVID-191. The<br>collapsing FSGS is a known complication of other viral infections, in particular the human<br>immunodeficiency virus (HIV)4, but also the cytomegalovirus5 and the parvovirus B196. For<br>HIV a direct toxic viral effect on podocytes has been documented7. The receptor for SARSCoV-<br>2, membrane-bound angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), is expressed on<br>podocytes8,9. PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was negative in kidney biopsy samples, but the technique<br>has a notoriously low rate of detection in non-respiratory samples (including blood and<br>urine)10 and the quality of the extracted RNA material was poor. However, in our patient’s<br>case, the presence of viral particles in the podocytes, revealed by electron microscopy study,<br>strongly suggests a direct toxic viral effect on podocytes.<br>Collapsing FSGS, with or without acute tubular necrosis, can also complicate the<br>course of hemophagocytic syndrome11, a disorder characterized by an increased release of a<br>wide range of cytokines. In our patient, normal levels of cytokines, in particular IL6, whilst<br>inflammation markers were still increased, plead against this hypothesis. However, a potential<br>virus-driven intra-renal cytokines release cannot be excluded.<br>Besides, since our patient is of African origin, it cannot be excluded that APOL1<br>variant may have contributed to the pathogenesis of collapsing FSGS, since APOL1 is a<br>recognized risk factor for the development collapsing FSGS in HIV and non-HIV patients4.<br>In our patient, acute tubular necrosis developed in the absence of hemodynamic<br>compromise or severe pulmonary involvement. This suggests that tubular injury in COVID-<br>19 patients, unlike that seen in coronavirus-associated severe acute respiratory syndrome<br>(SARS)12, is not predominantly ischemic. The possible underlying mechanisms are a direct<br>viral toxicity on tubular cells that also harbour ACE2 or a cytokine-mediated tubular damage.<br>In addition, the initial heavy proteinuria in our patient may have also contributed to tubular<br>necrosis.<br>Overall, in contrast to lung injury, kidney injury in COVID-19 does not appear to<br>include a predominant inflammatory component. This observation suggests that collapsing<br>FSGS, potentially resulting from a direct viral effect on podocytes, probably belongs to the<br>spectrum of COVID-19-associated renal involvement.
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