Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Aug 04, 2025 2 hours, 53 minutes ago
Medical News: COVID-19 Can Cause Unexpected Stomach Damage Doctors Warn
Doctors in China have reported a rare case in which COVID-19 caused severe damage to a young man’s stomach lining, leading to bleeding and inflammation. This case is drawing attention to lesser-known complications of the virus, especially in patients who show no respiratory symptoms.
Doctors Warn That COVID-19 Can Trigger Rare Bleeding Stomach Injury
The report, prepared by researchers from the Department of Gastroenterology at the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University and Shandong Second Medical University in Weifang, China, describes a healthy 34-year-old man who developed nausea, vomiting blood, and fever. This
Medical News report reveals that his stomach showed widespread inflammation and dead tissue. Tests confirmed COVID-19 infection and unusual blood clotting behavior, with no history of prior medical issues or use of medication that could explain the gastrointestinal damage.
Inside the Shocking Case
Initially suspected to have a form of stomach cancer called MALT lymphoma, further testing dismissed that idea. Instead, endoscopic exams and tissue studies revealed the virus had likely invaded the stomach through ACE2 receptors—proteins the coronavirus uses to enter cells. The stomach lining was inflamed and bleeding, and pathology showed strong ACE2 presence, linking the damage to SARS-CoV-2.
Doctors treated him with antiviral medications and drugs to repair the stomach lining, including oseltamivir and rabeprazole. Within three days, his symptoms improved. Over several months, follow-up tests showed steady healing. A six-month checkup revealed the stomach had recovered completely, with only minor inflammation remaining.
Understanding the Mechanism
COVID-19 is widely known for its effects on the lungs, but this case shows that the virus can harm the digestive tract. The virus may not directly attack the stomach lining, as ACE2 is more abundant in the small intestine than the stomach. Instead, the researchers suspect the injury was due to COVID-related blood clotting. Lab results showed high D-dimer levels, a marker of blood clot formation. These microclots may have disrupted blood flow in the stomach lining, causing the injury.
The researchers also performed a special stain test on the stomach tissues, showing ACE2 expression decreased as the patient recovered. This suggests a direct link between viral presence and tissue damage.
A Warning for Clinicians and the Public
This case serves as a crucial reminder that COVID-19 symptoms can go beyond coughs and fevers. In some patients, unexplained stomach bleeding or inflammation could be the first sign of infection. Doctors are urged to look out for digestive symptoms—especially in patients with unusual bleeding or clotting patterns.
The findings stress that gastrointestinal symptoms are not always mild or secondary. Sometimes, they are the first and most dan
gerous warning signs of a COVID-19 infection. Understanding this can help save lives through faster diagnosis and treatment.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Frontiers in Medicine.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1618638/full
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-triggers-chronic-gastritis-alters-stomach-cell-functions-and-push-gastric-cells-toward-cancer-like-states
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/yet-another-study-validates-that-sars-cov-2-triggers-hidden-stomach-damage
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/covid-19-and-h-pylori-co-infection-triggers-over-1100-gene-disruptions-and-severe-stomach-damage
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