Insights into the Pathophysiology of Post-COVID Lung Disease from the Perspective of Histopathology.
Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a broad range of respiratory complications. Among the spectrum of COVID-associated pulmonary conditions, severe bilateral pneumonitis that might progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome represents the most critical manifestation. A substantial proportion of survivors of severe COVID-19 continue to experience persistent respiratory symptoms and functional limitations. These findings are referred to as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.Summary
These residual post-COVID lung abnormalities are mechanistically linked to the structural changes of acute lung injury, but also to persistent systemic inflammatory signatures, and are reflected in a range of histopathological patterns, including pulmonary fibrosis, hyperinflammation, angiopathic and immunothrombotic tissue responses.Key messages
This review focuses on the current knowledge of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of post-COVID lung disease. We also schematically delineate the broad spectrum of post-COVID lung disease and explain the underlying pathomechanisms.
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BibTeX
@article{menter2026insights,
title = {{Insights into the Pathophysiology of Post-COVID Lung Disease from the Perspective of Histopathology.}},
author = {Thomas Menter and Kirsten D Mertz and Alexandar Tzankov},
journal = {Pathobiology : journal of immunopathology, molecular and cellular biology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1159/pat/aehag004},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42858306},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Insights into the Pathophysiology of Post-COVID Lung Disease from the Perspective of Histopathology.
AU - Thomas Menter
AU - Kirsten D Mertz
AU - Alexandar Tzankov
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/10
JO - Pathobiology : journal of immunopathology, molecular and cellular biology
DO - 10.1159/pat/aehag004
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42858306
AB - Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a broad range of respiratory complications. Among the spectrum of COVID-associated pulmonary conditions, severe bilateral pneumonitis that might progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome represents the most critical manifestation. A substantial proportion of survivors of severe COVID-19 continue to experience persistent respiratory symptoms and functional limitations. These findings are referred to as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19.Summary These residual post-COVID lung abnormalities are mechanistically linked to the structural changes of acute lung injury, but also to persistent systemic inflammatory signatures, and are reflected in a range of histopathological patterns, including pulmonary fibrosis, hyperinflammation, angiopathic and immunothrombotic tissue responses.Key messages This review focuses on the current knowledge of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of post-COVID lung disease. We also schematically delineate the broad spectrum of post-COVID lung disease and explain the underlying pathomechanisms.
SN - 1015-2008
SN - 1423-0291
ER -