Virological and histological evaluation of intestinal samples in COVID-19 patients

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the biopsy group

Characteristic	All patients, n = 30	Patients with GI symptoms at onset, n = 19	Patients without GI symptoms at onset, n = 11	P value
Median age in yr, mean (range)	65 (41-90)	60 (44-90)	78 (41-89)	NS
Sex as women:men (%)	7:23 (23.3:76.7)	4:15 (21.0:79)	3:8 (27.3:72.7)	NS
COVID-19 classification
Mild, n (%)	0	0	0	NS
Moderate, n (%)	30 (100)	19 (100)	11 (100)	NS
Coexisting illness
Hypertension	9 (30.0)	6 (31.6)	3 (27.3)
Diabetes mellitus	4 (13.3)	3 (15.8)	1 (9.1)
Cardio-cerebrovascular disease	5 (16.7)	3 (15.8)	2 (18.2)
Previous malignant tumor	2 (6.7)	1 (5.3)	1 (9.1)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	3 (10.0)	2 (10.5)	1 (9.1)
Chronic kidney disease	3 (10.0)	2 (10.5)	1 (9.1)
Obesity	2 (6.7)	2 (10.5)	0
Chest CT
Negative, n (%)	4 (13.3)	3 (15.8)	1 (9.1)	NS
Bilateral distribution of GGO with or without consolidation, n (%)	16 (53.3)	9 (47.4)	7 (63.6)	NS
Unilateral distribution of GGO, n (%)	2 (6.7)	1 (5.2)	1 (9.1)	NS
Bilateral interlobular septal thickening, n (%)	8 (26.7)	6 (31.6)	2 (18.2)	NS
Median time from first positive NPS (range), d	10 (1-25)	8.0 (1-25)	12.0 (3-24)	NS
SARS-CoV-2 RNA in feces1, n (%)	6/14 (42.9)	4/11 (36.4)	2/3 (66.7)	NS
SARS-CoV-2 RNA in RNA-preservation medium rectal mucosa biopsy2, n (%)	0	0	0	-
SARS-CoV-2 RNA in FFPE rectal mucosa biopsy3, n (%)	0	0	0	-
Histological examination
Glandular architecture: Normal/altered, n (%)	30/0 (100/0)	19/0 (100/0)	11/0 (100/0)	NS
Edema of the lamina propria: Absent/slight, n (%)	4/26 (13.3/86.7)	3/16 (15.8/84.2)	1/10 (9.1/90.9)	NS
Inflammatory lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in the lamina propria: Mild/moderate, n (%)	28/2 (93.3/6.7)	18/1 (94.7/5.3)	10/1 (90.9/9.1)	NS
Eosinophilic granulocytes in the lamina propria: Absent/occasional/scattered, n (%)	10/18/2 (33.3/60.0/6.7)	7/10/2 (36.8/52.6/10.7)	3/8/0 (27.3/72.2/0)	NS
Neutrophil granulocytes in the lamina propria: Absent/rare, n (%)	28/2 (93.3/6.7)	18/1	10/1 (90.9/9.1)	NS
Enterocyte damage: Absent/present, n (%)	30/0 (100/0)	19/0	11/0 (100/0)	NS
Clinical outcome, n (%)
Discharged	30 (100)	19 (100)	11 (100)	NS
Died	0	0	0	NS

¹Available in 14 cases.

²Available in 23 cases.

³Available in 30 cases.

SARS-CoV-2: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; GI: Gastrointestinal; NPS: Nasopharyngeal swab; SD: Standard deviation; FFPE: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded; GGO: Ground glass opacities; COVID-19: Coronavirus disease 2019; CT: Computed tomography.