Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

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• The agent was a novel coronavirus and was given the name SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV)

• new and rapidly progressive respiratory syndrome

• had the ability for efficient person-to-person transmission

• uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor for entry into its host

• through the virus's receptor-binding domain

• The virus concentrates in the lungs and small bowel, which are areas with a high density of its receptors

• fever or a history of fever along with one or more symptoms of lower respiratory tract illness

• radiographic findings of pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or an autopsy finding of pneumonia or ARDS without an identifiable cause and no alternative explanation of the illness

• there are two samples obtained from two different sites or two samples from one site obtained at two different times, showing the presence of a virus by an assay for viral RNA using reverse transcriptase PCR.

• diagnostic workup should include complete blood count with differential, chest x-ray, pulse oximetry, blood cultures, Gram stain, and culture of sputum, Legionella, and Pneumococcal antigen testing as well as viral respiratory pathogen panels

• done via PCR from samples obtained from at least two sites and as early in the illness as possible and then repeated five to seven days later if symptoms continue

• Serum antibody titers by ELISA

• low total lymphocytes, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.

• Radiographic findings are similar to other causes of viral pneumonia

• (CT) scanning showed additionally parenchymal abnormalities as well as ground-glass infiltrates, typically peripherally

• shows patterns ranging from normal in appearance to peripheral infiltrates (typically in middle to lower lung fields) to diffuse interstitial infiltrates.

• no specific treatment

• supportive care is emphasized