Abstract

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2, is the most serious pandemic in modern times. The disease was first reported in January of 2020 in China’s city of Wuhan, Hubei province, and since then it has spread worldwide. Given the rapid spread of the virus and the burden it has taken on the healthcare systems it has swept through, there is the need for a concise description of current understanding of the pathogenesis of organ failure in SARS-CoV-2 infection while acknowledging that more is yet to be uncovered. This review will not only inform decision making at the bedside but will also help illustrate potential therapeutic targets for research. We searched the available literature to-date, and present the pathophysiology underlying increased morbidity and mortality of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lungs, heart and kidneys in a highly illustrated presentation that is easy-to-understand for the clinician, researcher, and student alike.