key: cord-0694586-z6d30g8i authors: Parrón, Dámaso; Gartzia, Ane; Iturregui, Ane M.; Imaz, Igone; Manini, Claudia; García-Olaverri, Jorge; López, José I. title: SARS-CoV-2-Associated Obliterative Arteritis Causing Massive Testicular Infarction date: 2021-05-06 journal: Clin Pract DOI: 10.3390/clinpract11020037 sha: 3db4b2efb4f2cc44d40821cda4d70045658c75e5 doc_id: 694586 cord_uid: z6d30g8i A 26-year-old man with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection developed a sudden-onset acute testicular pain. The echo-doppler images showed massive testicular infarction, so orchiectomy was performed. On gross examination, the surgical specimen showed complete testicular necrosis and diffuse thickening of the testicular coverings. Under the microscope, a severe obliterative arteritis was evidenced. SARS-CoV-2 spike antibody was detected by immunohistochemistry in the arterial endothelium. Electron microscopy displayed intracytoplasmic spiky viral particles in endothelial cells. The patient was treated with corticoids and was asymptomatic at last contact. Individual host reactivity against SARS-CoV-2 is largely unpredictable and responsible for most symptoms and sequelae of this infection. Vasculitis is a systemic response to the virus with variable qualitative and quantitative clinical manifestations. Here, we present an extreme case of massive unilateral testicular necrosis occurring in the recovery phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a young man, a manifestation which represents a previously non reported clinical complication of this infection. A 26-year-old man with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, including mild dyspnea and fever, developed a left testicular pain two days after the acute symptomatic infection was vanished (PCR negative, IgG positive). No antecedents of any systemic disease were recorded in the anamnesis and analytical data, other than those specifically related to the SARS-CoV-2, were within the normal limits. No signs of coagulopathy were detected. The echo-doppler study of the testis at that time showed mild hypoperfusion. Testicular pain was then thought to be secondary to orchitis and symptomatic therapy with empiric antibiotic coverage was started. Pain, however, did not recover and 3 days after a second echo-doppler showed a complete testicular infarction ( Figure 1A ). Left orchiectomy was then performed ( Figure 1B) . No signs or symptoms of vasculopathy were detected elsewhere. The patient was treated with corticoids and was asymptomatic at last contact. Right testis is not affected. Grossly, the testicle (length of the surgical specimen: 8 cm, testicular size: 3 cm, surgical specimen weight: 73 g) showed a massive infarction and diffuse thickening of the spermatic cord and testicular coverings ( Figure 1C) . A segmentary obliterative endotheliitis affecting large, medium, and small-sized arteries was observed in the spermatic cord. Vascular injury was heterogeneous in intensity and distribution. The more severely damaged vessels, including the spermatic artery, displayed occlusive endothelial proliferation ( Figure 2A ) admixed with neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes. Less damaged vessels showed endothelial tumefaction and vacuolization with associated inflammation ( Figure 2B-D) . Additionally, there were well-preserved arteries and veins without any apparent morphological alteration. Vascular lumina showed only very occasional thrombotic phenomena. Grossly, the testicle (length of the surgical specimen: 8 cm, testicular size: 3 cm, surgical specimen weight: 73 g) showed a massive infarction and diffuse thickening of the spermatic cord and testicular coverings ( Figure 1C) . A segmentary obliterative endotheliitis affecting large, medium, and small-sized arteries was observed in the spermatic cord. Vascular injury was heterogeneous in intensity and distribution. The more severely damaged vessels, including the spermatic artery, displayed occlusive endothelial proliferation ( Figure 2A ) admixed with neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes. Less damaged vessels showed endothelial tumefaction and vacuolization with associated inflammation ( Figure 2B -D). Additionally, there were well-preserved arteries and veins without any apparent morphological alteration. Vascular lumina showed only very occasional thrombotic phenomena. Grossly, the testicle (length of the surgical specimen: 8 cm, testicular size: 3 cm, surgical specimen weight: 73 g) showed a massive infarction and diffuse thickening of the spermatic cord and testicular coverings ( Figure 1C) . A segmentary obliterative endotheliitis affecting large, medium, and small-sized arteries was observed in the spermatic cord. Vascular injury was heterogeneous in intensity and distribution. The more severely damaged vessels, including the spermatic artery, displayed occlusive endothelial proliferation ( Figure 2A ) admixed with neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes. Less damaged vessels showed endothelial tumefaction and vacuolization with associated inflammation ( Figure 2B-D) . Additionally, there were well-preserved arteries and veins without any apparent morphological alteration. Vascular lumina showed only very occasional thrombotic phenomena. The intravascular lymphocyte population associated with endothelial damage included both CD4 and CD8 cells. Interstitial and perivascular infiltrates were composed of a mixture of macrophages, and T and B cells. Immunohistochemistry against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (Gene Tex, clone 1A9, dilution 1:500) showed positive endothelial reaction ( Figure 2E , negative control in Figure 2F ). Moreover, viral spiked particles were detected in endothelial cells (Figure 3 ). Testicular parenchyma was diffusely necrotic. The intravascular lymphocyte population associated with endothelial damage included both CD4 and CD8 cells. Interstitial and perivascular infiltrates were composed of a mixture of macrophages, and T and B cells. Immunohistochemistry against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (Gene Tex, clone 1A9, dilution 1:500) showed positive endothelial reaction ( Figure 2E , negative control in Figure 2F ). Moreover, viral spiked particles were detected in endothelial cells (Figure 3 ). Testicular parenchyma was diffusely necrotic. COVID-19-associated vasculopathy has been well documented in almost any organ [1] being responsible for most of the symptoms and sequelae of this infection. Direct endothelial damage induced by the virus alters the in situ glycocalyx thus favoring hypercoagulability [2] . Diffuse alveolar damage, interstitial, and organizing pneumonia have been observed in the lungs of several autopsy studies [3] . However, almost every organ can be affected. Some other similar examples of ischemic changes secondary to virus-related vasculopathy, i.e., ischemic vascular stroke [4] , intestinal ischemia [5] , and gallbladder ischemic necrosis [6] , some of them occurring in young people, have been occasionally reported. Orchitis and impaired spermatogenesis have been previously associated with COVID-19 infection [7, 8] . However, massive testicular ischemic infarction in the context of COVID-19 infection has not been reported so far. The present case recalls the attention of general practitioners and urologists when facing testicular pain in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection. COVID-19-associated vasculopathy has been well documented in almost any organ [1] being responsible for most of the symptoms and sequelae of this infection. Direct endothelial damage induced by the virus alters the in situ glycocalyx thus favoring hypercoagulability [2] . Diffuse alveolar damage, interstitial, and organizing pneumonia have been observed in the lungs of several autopsy studies [3] . However, almost every organ can be affected. Some other similar examples of ischemic changes secondary to virus-related vasculopathy, i.e., ischemic vascular stroke [4] , intestinal ischemia [5] , and gallbladder ischemic necrosis [6] , some of them occurring in young people, have been occasionally reported. Orchitis and impaired spermatogenesis have been previously associated with COVID-19 infection [7, 8] . However, massive testicular ischemic infarction in the context of COVID-19 infection has not been reported so far. The present case recalls the attention of general practitioners and urologists when facing testicular pain in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection. COVID-19-associated vasculitis and vasculopathy Vascular endothelial injury exacerbates coronavirus disease 2019: The role of endothelial glycocalyx protection Pulmonary post-mortem findings in a series of COVID-19 cases from northern Italy: A two-centre descriptive study COVID-19-associated vasculitis and vasculopathy Vascular endothelial injury exacerbates coronavirus disease 2019: The role of endothelial glycocalyx protection. Microcirculation 2020, e12654 Pulmonary post-mortem findings in a series of COVID-19 cases from northern Italy: A two-centre descriptive study Vasculitis-related stroke in young as a presenting feature of novel coronavirus disease (COVID19). Case report Intestinal ischemia secondary to Covid-19 Histopathological findings in a COVID-19 patient affected by ischemic gangrenous cholecystitis Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Male Reproductive Health: A Review of the Literature on Male Reproductive Involvement in COVID-19 Funding: This research received no external funding. Informed Consent Statement: Informed consent was obtained from the patient. The authors declare no conflict of interest.