Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors in COVID-19: Current Concepts

The functional receptor to SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, is angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2), the same enzyme that physiologically counters the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation. Some researchers have questioned RAS inhibitors’...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kunal Mahajan, Prakash Chand Negi, Neeraj Ganju, Sachin Sondhi, Naresh Gaur, Rao Somendra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2020-01-01
Series:International Journal of Hypertension
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/1025913
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Summary:The functional receptor to SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, is angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2), the same enzyme that physiologically counters the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation. Some researchers have questioned RAS inhibitors’ safety in COVID-19 patients since these drugs have demonstrated an increase in ACE-2 expression in preclinical studies; therefore, they may facilitate viral invasion. On the contrary, others have hypothesized a protective role of RAS inhibitors against COVID-19-associated lung injury. Overall, the data are grossly inadequate to reach any conclusion since no human trials have yet evaluated the effects of RAS inhibitors in COVID-19. We review the current data and pathophysiological mechanisms behind this intriguing interplay between the RAS inhibitors and the COVID-19.
ISSN:2090-0384
2090-0392