A Series of COVID-19 Cases With Findings in the Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary System

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has rapidly spread worldwide. Most of the infected patients present with respiratory symptoms and acute lung damage. Here, we present three cases of patients with COVID-19 disease whose main clinical manifestations are gastrointestinal symptoms. In our first case, we present a COVID-19 patient with histologic findings associated with ischemic necrosis of the small bowel. In the second and third cases, we demonstrate acute cholecystitis and histology showing microvascular thrombosis. These three cases highlight the ischemic and thrombotic changes seen in the setting of COVID-19 infection without classic respiratory symptoms, with resulting severe gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary disease requiring surgical management. Although the bile or stool viral load was not tested in these patients, the small intestine and gallbladder were infected with SARS-CoV-2, most likely via the epithelial angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor.