Acute SARS-CoV-2 pneumonitis with cytotoxic CD8 positive T-lymphocytes: Case report and review of the literature

As of October 2020, there are over 40 million confirmed cases, and more than 1 million confirmed deaths of Covid-19 worldwide. The main cause of death in hospitalized patients is a respiratory failure due to acute respiratory distress syndrome. It has been suggested that the very intense immune response induces diffuse alveolar damage that far exceeds the harm that would have been caused by virus replication per se, resulting in lethal tissue destruction. We present a detailed report of the histopathological findings on cryo transbronchial biopsy in the patient with persistent (3 months) interstitial pneumonitis and severe CD8 positive cell infiltration in the lungs due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. CD8 positive T-lymphocytes have a great potential to damage tissue either through direct cytotoxicity or through cytokines release.

Automated summary

The global Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in over 40 million confirmed cases and more than 1 million confirmed deaths, with respiratory failure being the main cause of death in hospitalized patients. CD8 positive cell infiltration in the lungs of patients with persistent interstitial pneumonitis due to SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to tissue damage.