Pathomorphology of the Zona Glomerulosa of the Adrenal Glands in COVID-19

Abstract

In this article, pathomorphological changes of the cortical columnar area of the adrenal gland in COVID-19 infection are studied. The results showed that the interstitial tissue and blood vessels of the columnar region of the adrenal cortex during the COVID-19 infection exhibited severe discirculation, edema, haemorrhage and inflammatory infiltrates. It was found that in those patients who died from COVID-19, severe interstitial edema and destruction developed in the outer membrane and zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex, and in the columnar zone, the cytoplasm of parenchymal cells expanded and swollen due to vacuolar and fatty degeneration. It has been determined that necrobiosis, necrosis and infarction foci occur in the columnar region of the adrenal cortex due to various mechanisms, including discirculation, dystrophy, hypoxia and ischemia. Foci of necrosis and infarction undergo reparative regeneration over time and are morphologically infiltrated by macrophages, other histiocytic cells and lymphocytes.