Conclusions and future directions
COVID-19 is a SARS–CoV-2 syndrome that can involve all organs, including the circulatory system. Endothelial cell inflammation occurs within arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules and veins and contributes to pathological events; including tissue hypoperfusion, injury, thrombosis and vascular dysfunction in the acute, subacute and possibly chronic stages of disease. Beyond re-writing the textbooks that hence will include SARS–CoV-2 as a causal pathogen for multi-bed vasculitis, the data will show that it is a new category of systemic vasculitis forever captured in the annals of medicine. As clinicians and scientists, we have but to understand, prevent, treat, document and inform at every step along the way.
“Yes we can, we must”
Mildred Jefferson, MD
Caroline Still Wiley Anderson, MD
Patricia Bath, MD