Understanding the Disease

Two Phases of Infection Discovered in Patients with Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia – David T. Ting, MD, associate clinical director for Innovation at the Mass General Cancer Center, and colleagues report on two distinct phases of infection in severe COVID-19 pneumonia: the early phase, defined by high levels of SARS-CoV-2 in the lungs, and the later phase, in which the virus is no longer present, but damage to lungs is too severe for recovery. – Dec. 18

Athletes and COVID-19 – In this Q&A, Meagan Wasfy, MD, sports cardiologist, describes the evolution of return-to-play guidelines as researchers uncover more about the progression and treatment of COVID-19, and the implications those findings have on the general patient population. – Dec. 17

Histopathology of COVID-19 is Typical of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome – Physicians in the Department of Pathology and Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care have determined that COVID-19 falls along the spectrum of known acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) histopathology, primarily manifesting as acute-phase diffuse alveolar damage. (12/3)

Early Details of Brain Damage in COVID-19 Patients – Researchers at Mass General have conducted one of the first spectroscopic imaging-based studies of neurological injury in COVID-19 patients. Among six infected patients who had neurological symptoms, they observed some of the same metabolic disturbances in the brain as other patients who suffered oxygen deprivation (hypoxia) from other causes. (12/2)

The Coronavirus Recovery Clinic and Post-ICU Care: Q&A with Leo Ginns, MD, and George Alba, MD – Leo Ginns, MD, director of the Center for Advanced Lung Disease, and George Alba, MD, pulmonary and critical care physician, discuss the establishment of the Coronavirus Recovery (CORE) Clinic and share considerations for post-ICU care for patients with COVID-19. (9/10) 

COVID-19: Public Health and Scientific Challenges with Dr. Anthony Fauci – On September 10, 2020, Anthony S. Fauci, MD, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director, presented to the Boston medical community at a virtual Grand Rounds presentation co-hosted by the Department of Medicine. (9/10) 

COVID-19 Acuity Score Identifies Outpatients at High or Low Risk of Adverse Outcomes – Shibani Mukerji, MD, PhD, associate director of the Neuro-Infectious Diseases Unit, physician Gregory K. Robbins, MD, of the Infectious Disease Division, M. Brandon Westover, MD, PhD, a neurologist who directs the Clinical Data Animation Center, and colleagues developed a scoring system called the COVID-19 Acuity Score (CoVA), which helps clinicians plan appropriate follow-up care for outpatients with COVID-19. (9/8) 

 Internet Searches on GI Symptoms Predict COVID-19 Incidence in US Hotspots – Kyle Staller, MD, MPH, director of the Gastrointestinal Motility Laboratory in the Division of Gastroenterology, and colleagues report that online searches for certain gastrointestinal symptoms correlated with the incidence of COVID-19 in five states with high disease burden during the first five months of the pandemic. (9/4)

Pathologic Link Detected Between COVID-19 and Myocarditis – Cases of myocarditis associated with COVID-19 have raised the question as to whether SARS-CoV-2 can damage the heart directly. Patrick T. Ellinor, MD, PhD, director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, and colleagues have found ACE2, the receptor for SARS-CoV-2, in cardiomyocytes, providing evidence of a link between COVID-19 and myocarditis. (8/27)

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Severity of COVID-19 Lung Disease on Admission X-Ray – It has been well documented that the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affects patients from racial and ethnic minority groups. Now, Efren J. Flores, MD, an officer of Radiology Community Health Improvement and Equity, and colleagues are using chest X-rays to reveal how these disparities manifest in patients and what factors drive inequality in treatment. (8/27) 

Centralized Processes Facilitate Clinical Trial Enrollment During COVID-19 – Crystal M. North, MD, MPH, Michael Dougan, MD, PhD, physician in the Division of Gastroenterology, and Chana A. Sacks, MD, physician in the Division of General Internal Medicine, describe Mass General's approach to COVID-19 clinical trial oversight. (8/7)

Early Data Suggest Caution with Empiric Escalation of Anticoagulation in COVID-19 – Hanny Al-Samkari, MD, a classical hematologist and clinical investigator at the Center for Hematology at the Mass General Cancer Center, Rachel Rosovsky, MD, of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Mass General Cancer Center, and colleagues found substantial rates of thrombotic and bleeding complications in adults with COVID-19, suggesting caution with routine escalation of anticoagulation beyond standard doses. (8/7)

The Neurological Effects of Sedation in COVID-19 Patients – SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to respiratory failure, and subsequent prolonged ventilation and sedation. Neurologists and neuroscientists at Mass General are working to understand the effects of that long-term sedation on patients' neurological function. (8/7) 

Is There a Connection Between Blood Type and COVID-19? – In this Q&A, Rebecca Karp Leaf, MD, and Hanny Al-Samkari, MD, non-malignant hematologists at the Mass General Cancer Center, review what is known to date about the correlation between blood type and COVID-19 transmission/severity, findings from their recent study and reasons why this connection may or may not exist. (7/24)

Bowel Necrosis in a Patient with COVID-19 – Rajshri M. Gartland, MD, clinical fellow in Surgery, and George C. Velmahos, MD, PhD, division chief of Trauma, Emergency Surgery and Surgical Critical Care, describe the case of a critically ill patient with COVID-19 who developed catastrophic bowel necrosis despite widely patent mesenteric vessels. (7/24) 

AASLD Consensus Statement Advises on Liver Disease Treatment – Raymond Chung, MD, vice chief of the Gastrointestinal Division and director of the Hepatology and Liver Center, and colleagues have published a consensus statement that provides information on what is currently known about COVID-19 and how it may impact hepatologists, liver transplant providers and their patients. (7/9) 

Fertility Treatment & Innovations Address Care During COVID-19 – John Petrozza, MD, chief of Reproductive Medicine at the Fertility Center in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, describes some of the modifications that he and his team have instituted in order to continue to provide safe, comprehensive fertility care during the pandemic. (7/9) 

COVID-19 Prevention in the Urological Community – Mass General urologist Adam Feldman, MD, MPH, discusses key takeaways from Anthony S. Fauci, MD's address at the American Urologic Association's 2020 Live Virtual Experience, including the impact that COVID-19 has had on urologic care. (7/9) 

Elevations in Aminotransferases Mirror Severity of COVID-19 – Patricia P. Bloom, MD, fellow in the Division of Gastroenterology, Raymond Chung, MD, and colleagues report that the pattern of liver biochemistries in COVID-19 is notable for elevation in aspartate aminotransferase, possibly reflecting a unique virally mediated mechanism of hepatic injury. (7/9)

Acute Respiratory Distress in COVID-19: Experts Outline Current Clinical Strategies and Research Opportunities — The third lecture in Massachusetts General Hospital's Medical Grand Rounds COVID-19 series focused on the clinical care of acute respiratory failure and the potential for new therapies and treatment strategies. (4/3) 

Smoking, Vaping and COVID-19: About the Connection and How to Quit — Learn how smoking and vaping can put your body at a higher risk of catching COVID-19 and how to quit smoking and vaping to protect yourself and others. (3/26)

The Use of NSAIDs in COVID-19 Patients: Q&A with Bryan D. Hayes, PharmD — Dr. Hayes, the clinical manager of Emergency Medicine & Overnight Pharmacy Services, clarifies the risks and benefits of drugs like ibuprofen for use in patients with COVID-19. (3/20)