COVID-19 endocrinopathy with hindsight from SARS

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2021 Jan 1;320(1):E139-E150. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00480.2020. Epub 2020 Nov 25.

Abstract

The current COVID-19 pandemic is probably the worst the world has ever faced since the start of the new millennium. Although the respiratory system is the most prominent target of SARS-CoV-2 (the contagion of COVID-19), extrapulmonary involvement are emerging as important contributors of its morbidity and lethality. This article summarizes the impact of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 on the endocrine system to facilitate our understanding of the nature of coronavirus-associated endocrinopathy. Although new data are rapidly accumulating on this novel infection, many of the endocrine manifestations of COVID-19 remain incompletely elucidated. We, hereby, summarize various endocrine dysfunctions including coronavirus-induced new onset diabetes mellitus, hypocortisolism, thyroid hormone, and reproductive system aberrations so that clinicians armed with such insights can potentially benefit patients with COVID-19 at the bedside.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; endocrine system; virus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • COVID-19 / complications*
  • Endocrine System Diseases / virology*
  • Humans
  • Neuropilin-1
  • Pandemics
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus

Substances

  • Neuropilin-1
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • TMPRSS2 protein, human