A central registry of autopsies of deceased COVID-19 victims has been established at Uniklinik RWTH Aachen: DeRegCOVID. Autopsies are still highly significant when it comes to understanding the pathogenesis of diseases and this is especially true when they are caused by a previously unknown pathogen, such as SARS-CoV-2.
Despite worldwide efforts to better understand COVID-19, little is known about its pathogenesis at present. This applies both to its spread within the human body and its effects on organs and cells. Finally, it is still unclear which predisposing, clinically not manifest pathological changes or underlying diseases, for example of the lung tissue, are responsible for a severe or lethal progression of the disease.
Autopsies of patients who have died from COVID-19 provide a unique opportunity to help to better understand the pathophysiology and progression of the disease and thus to answer some open questions. At best, such findings may improve the treatment of COVID -19 patients currently in care.
The aim of the registry is to record as many autopsy cases of COVID-19 patients as possible throughout Germany, so that it can subsequently serve as a central point of contact for data analysis and research inquiries.
The registry is coordinated by the Institute of Pathology of Uniklinik RWTH Aachen in close cooperation with the Institute of Medical Informatics and the Center for Translational & Clinical Research (CTC-A) of Uniklinik RWTH Aachen and is strongly supported by the Federal Ministry of Health.
You can find further information about the DeRegCOVID register here.