Study Supports Link Between COVID-19 and "COVID Toes"

Analyses detected the virus in skin's blood vessel endothelial cells, as well as in the sweat glands. Electron microscopy in one biopsy also found evidence of viral particles within endothelial cells.

"Our findings support a causal relation of SARS-CoV-2 with COVID toes. Endothelial damage induced by the virus could be the key mechanism causing these lesions," said lead author Isabel Colmenero, MD, of Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, in Spain. "Furthermore, vascular damage could also explain some clinical features seen in patients with severe COVID-19."

Although the clinical and histopathological features were similar to other forms of chilblains, the presence of viral particles in the endothelium and the histological evidence of vascular damage, support a causal relation of the lesions with SARS‐CoV‐2. Endothelial damage induced by the virus could be the key mechanism in the pathogenesis of COVID‐19 chilblains and perhaps also in a group of patients severely affected by COVID‐19 presenting with features of microangiopathic damage.

For more details click on the link: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.19327