MedCram Explains How Hantavirus Kills Through Alveolar Endothelial Leakage and Why ECMO Helps

MedCram's 16-minute expert review explains that hantavirus enters endothelial cells via receptors including beta-3 integrin and protocadherin 1 (PCDH1), disrupting the endothelial barrier without lysing cells. Pathogenic hantaviruses sensitize endothelial cells to VEGF, opening junctions so red blood cells leak into alveoli and fill the lungs with blood. T-cell responses track with disease severity, and ECMO markedly improves survival, guiding targeted intervention along the virus-receptor-leak pathway.