https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🗨" title="Left speech bubble" aria-label="Emoji: Left speech bubble">Some clinicians suspect the driving force in many gravely ill patients...is a disastrous overreaction of the immune system known as a https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⛈" title="Thunder cloud and rain" aria-label="Emoji: Thunder cloud and rain">“cytokine storm” https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="⛈" title="Thunder cloud and rain" aria-label="Emoji: Thunder cloud and rain"> ... Blood vessels leak, blood pressure drops, clots form & catastrophic organ failure can ensue. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/how-does-coronavirus-kill-clinicians-trace-ferocious-rampage-through-body-brain-toes">https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020...

LUNGS

A cross section shows immune cells crowding an inflamed alveolus, or air sac, whose walls break down during attack by the virus, diminishing oxygen uptake. Patients cough, fevers rise, and breathing becomes labored. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/how-does-coronavirus-kill-clinicians-trace-ferocious-rampage-through-body-brain-toes">https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020...

https://twitter.com/latrey69/status/1253334819091578881?s=20">https://twitter.com/latrey69/...

HEART & BLOOD VESSELS
The virus (teal) enters cells likely including those lining blood vessels by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors on the cell surface. Infection can also promote blood clots, heart attacks & cardiac inflammation https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/how-does-coronavirus-kill-clinicians-trace-ferocious-rampage-through-body-brain-toes">https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020...

LIVER

Up to half of hospitalized patients have enzyme levels that signal a struggling liver. An immune system in overdrive and drugs given to fight the virus may be causing the damage. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/how-does-coronavirus-kill-clinicians-trace-ferocious-rampage-through-body-brain-toes">https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020...

NOSE

Some patients lose their sense of smell. Scientists speculate that the virus may move up the nose’s nerve endings and damage cells https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/how-does-coronavirus-kill-clinicians-trace-ferocious-rampage-through-body-brain-toes">https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020...

KIDNEYS

Kidney damage is common in severe cases and makes death more likely. The virus may attack the kidneys directly, or kidney failure may be part of whole-body events like plummeting blood pressure. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/how-does-coronavirus-kill-clinicians-trace-ferocious-rampage-through-body-brain-toes">https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020...

INTESTINES

Patient reports and biopsy data suggest the virus can infect the lower gastrointestinal tract, which is rich in ACE2 receptors. Some 20% or more of patients have diarrhea. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/how-does-coronavirus-kill-clinicians-trace-ferocious-rampage-through-body-brain-toes">https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020...

EYES

Conjunctivitis, inflammation of the membrane that lines the front of the eye and inner eyelid, is more common in the sickest patients https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/how-does-coronavirus-kill-clinicians-trace-ferocious-rampage-through-body-brain-toes">https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020...

BRAIN

Some COVID-19 patients have strokes, seizures, confusion, and brain inflammation. Doctors are trying to understand which are directly caused by the virus. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/04/how-does-coronavirus-kill-clinicians-trace-ferocious-rampage-through-body-brain-toes">https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020...