Introduction:

The pandemic derived from the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global public health emergency, due to the fact that it can develop life-threatening complications. Although SARS-CoV-2 is known to cause substantial lung disease, many extra-pulmonary manifestations have been observed, including involvement of the gastrointestinal system. Toxic mega colon is a rare but life-threatening complication most associated with inflammatory bowel disease. However, any condition that leads to inflammation of the colon can lead to toxic dilation.

Objective:

To report the case of a patient with ARDS secondary to a SARS-COV-2 infection. Concomitantly, she had non-obstructive dilation of the colon, associated with systemic toxicity.

Clinical case report: The development of toxic mega colon in a patient with SARS-COV-2 may be justified because the virus infects host cells through the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. The diagnostic criteria for toxic megacolon were met.

Conclusions:

It is also highly expressed in intestinal epithelial cells, therefore, its timely diagnosis should be considered for early intervention, in order to reduce the mortality rate as much as possible.

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