Cutaneous Manifestations of COVID-19 in the Inpatient Setting

Abstract

Cutaneous findings have increasingly been reported in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This review discusses associated skin findings in patients with COVID-19 in the inpatient setting, ranging from vasculopathy-related lesions associated with high hospitalization rate and poor prognosis to inflammatory vesicular and urticarial eruptions that are rarely associated with prolonged hospitalization. We also discuss other reported COVID-19 cutaneous manifestations such as Sweet's syndrome, purpuric eruptions, and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children. Although the relationship between dermatologic changes and COVID-19 disease progression is not fully elucidated, familiarity with cutaneous manifestations is valuable for physicians caring for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and may help improve disease recognition and care.

Keywords: COVID-19; Complement; Cutaneous; Inpatient; MIS-C; Vasculopathy; Viral exanthem.

Fig. 1

Livedo racemosa on the arm with biopsy site in a patient with COVID-19 complicated by ARDS. Biopsy revealed pauci-inflammatory thrombotic vasculopathy.

Fig. 2

Early retiform purpura on the right foot in a patient with COVID-19 complicated by ARDS and ischemic stroke. Biopsy revealed pauci-inflammatory thrombotic vasculopathy.

Fig. 3

Inflammatory retiform purpura in a COVID-19 patient complicated by ARDS. Biopsy revealed thrombotic.