SARS-CoV-2 and the cardiovascular system

Clin Chim Acta. 2020 Nov:510:311-316. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2020.07.019. Epub 2020 Jul 16.

Abstract

The coronavirus disease COVID-19 is a public health emergency caused by a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 infection uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, and typically spreads through the respiratory tract. Invading viruses can elicit an exaggerated host immune response, frequently leading to a cytokine storm that may be fueling some COVID-19 death. This response contributes to multi-organ dysfunction. Accumulating data points to an increased cardiovascular disease morbidity, and mortality in COVID-19 patients. This brief review explores potential available evidence regarding the association between COVID-19, and cardiovascular complications.

Keywords: ACE2; COVID-19; Myocardial injury; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Troponin.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • Betacoronavirus / physiology*
  • COVID-19
  • Cardiovascular System / drug effects
  • Cardiovascular System / virology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / complications
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Coronavirus Infections / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Pandemics
  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism
  • Pneumonia, Viral / complications
  • Pneumonia, Viral / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Viral / metabolism
  • Renin-Angiotensin System / drug effects
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A
  • ACE2 protein, human
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2