RAAS INHIBITORS ARE CARDIOPROTECTIVE IN PATIENTS WITH COVID-19

Abstract It has been established SARS-CoV-2 uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a membrane-bound regulatory peptide, for host cell entry. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors have been reported to increase ACE2 in type 2 pneumocytes pulmonary tissue. Controversy exists for the continuation of ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) in the current pandemic. ACE2 serves as regulatory enzyme in maintaining homeostasis between proinflammatory Angiotensin II and anti-inflammatory Angiotensin 1,7 peptides. Derangements in these peptides are associated with cardiovascular disease and are implicated in the progression of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Augmentation of the ACE2/Ang1,7 axis represent a critical target in the supportive management of COVID-19 associated lung disease. Observational data describing the use of RAAS inhibitors in the setting of SARS-CoV-2 have not borne signals of harm to date. However, equipoise persists requiring an analysis of novel agents including recombinant human-ACE2 and existing RAAS inhibitors while balancing ongoing controversies associated with increased coronavirus infectivity and virulence.

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REDUCTION IN SERUM K+ WITH ZS-9 IN CKD PATIENTS WITH HYPERKALEMIA ON RAAS INHIBITORS (RAASi)

American Journal of Kidney Diseases ◽

10.1053/j.ajkd.2014.01.353 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 63 (5) ◽

pp. B102

Keyword(s):

Raas Inhibitors

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Further developments in the literature on RAAS inhibitors and COVID-19

Canadian Medical Association Journal ◽

10.1503/cmaj.76076 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 192 (26) ◽

pp. E727-E727

Author(s):

Kieran L. Quinn ◽

Michael Fralick ◽

Jonathan S. Zipursky ◽

Nathan M. Stall

Keyword(s):

Raas Inhibitors

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Preventing acute kidney injury in high-risk patients by temporarily discontinuing medication – an observational study in general practice

10.21203/rs.2.10114/v3 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Suzanne J Faber ◽

Nynke Scherpbier ◽

Hans Peters ◽

Annemarie Uijen

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Acute Kidney Injury ◽

High Risk ◽

Kidney Injury ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Fluid Loss ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

High Risk Patients ◽

Risk Patients ◽

Raas Inhibitors

Abstract Background Elderly, patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and patients with heart failure who continue using renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system (RAAS) inhibitors, diuretics, or non-steroidal-anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during times of fluid loss have a high risk of developing complications like acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study was to assess how often advice to discontinue high-risk medication was offered to high-risk patients consulting the general practitioner (GP) with increased fluid loss. Furthermore, we assessed the number and nature of the complications that occurred after GP consultation. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study with patients from seven Dutch general practices participating in the Family Medicine Network between 1-6-2013 and 1-7-2018. We included patients who used RAAS-inhibitors, diuretics, or NSAIDs, and had at least one of the following risk factors: age ≥70 years, CKD, or heart failure. From this population, we selected patients with a ‘dehydration-risk’ episode (vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, chills, or gastrointestinal infection). We manually checked their electronic patient files and assessed the percentage of episodes in which advice to discontinue the high-risk medication was offered and whether a complication occurred in three months after the ‘dehydration-risk’ episode. Results We included 3607 high-risk patients from a total of 44.675 patients (8.1%). We found that patients were advised to discontinue the high-risk medication in 38 (4.6%) of 816 ‘dehydration-risk’ episodes. In 59 of 816 episodes (7.1%) complications (mainly AKI) occurred. Conclusions Dutch GPs do not frequently advise high-risk patients to discontinue high-risk medication during ‘dehydration-risk’ episodes. Complications occur frequently. Timely discontinuation of high-risk medication needs attention.

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Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors – a realm of confusion in COVID-19

Journal of Ideas in Health ◽

10.47108/jidhealth.vol4.issspecial2.125 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (Special2) ◽

pp. 389-394

Author(s):

Angela Madalina Lazar

Keyword(s):

Angiotensin Ii ◽

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Angiotensin Receptor Blockers ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Converting Enzyme ◽

Angiotensin I ◽

Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System ◽

Renin Angiotensin ◽

Raas Inhibitors

Currently, there is a persisting dispute regarding the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system (RAAS) inhibitors' safety of use in COVID-19 pandemics. On one side, RAAS inhibitors appear to determine an overexpression of ACE2, the receptor of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, they could increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its degree of severity. On the other side, the discontinuation of RAAS leads to cardiovascular decompensation and has been discouraged by the major medical societies. Also, large-cohort studies report beneficial or at least neutral effects for the RAAS inhibitors in COVID-19 patients. Worldwide, millions of patients receive RAAS inhibitors for the treatment of hypertension and other important comorbidities. In this context, knowledge of the exact effect of these medications becomes of crucial significance. This paper aims to fill in a gap in the current knowledge and presents a putative mechanism by which RAAS inhibitor administration's beneficial results can be explained better. RAAS inhibitors can be beneficial, as they counteract the excessive detrimental activation of the classical angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) axis, decreasing the angiotensin II levels. The angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) increase the angiotensin II levels, while the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) increase the angiotensin I levels; these substrates will compete with the SARS-CoV-2 for the ACE2 binding, decreasing the viral infectivity. In addition, following the RAAS inhibitors treatment, the up-regulated ACE2 will cleave these substrates (angiotensin I and II), particularly to angiotensin 1-7 that possesses vasodilator, protective effects.

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Effect of Patiromer in Hyperkalemic Patients Taking and Not Taking RAAS Inhibitors

Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics ◽

10.1177/1074248418788334 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (6) ◽

pp. 524-531 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Robert A. Kloner ◽

Coleman Gross ◽

Jinwei Yuan ◽

Ansgar Conrad ◽

Pablo E. Pergola

Keyword(s):

Adverse Events ◽

Serum Potassium ◽

Common Adverse Event ◽

Open Label ◽

Serious Adverse Events ◽

End Point ◽

The Mean ◽

Baseline Characteristics ◽

Raas Inhibitors ◽

Post Hoc

Introduction: Hyperkalemia (potassium >5.0 mEq/L) affects heart failure patients with renal disease regardless of the use of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi). The open-label TOURMALINE study showed that patiromer, a sodium-free, nonabsorbed potassium binder, lowers serum potassium of hyperkalemic patients similarly when given with or without food; unlike prior studies, patients were not required to be taking RAASi. We conducted post hoc analyses to provide the first report of patiromer in patients not taking RAASi. Methods: Hyperkalemic patients received patiromer, 8.4 g/d to start, adjusted to achieve and maintain serum potassium of 3.8 to 5.0 mEq/L. If taking RAASi, stable doses were required. The primary end point was the proportion of patients with serum potassium 3.8 to 5.0 mEq/L at week 3 or 4. This analysis presents data by patients taking or not taking RAASi. Results: Demographics and baseline characteristics were similar in patients taking (n = 67) and not taking RAASi (n = 45). Baseline mean (SD) serum potassium was 5.37 (0.37) mEq/L and 5.42 (0.43) mEq/L in patients taking and not taking RAASi, respectively. Mean (SD) daily patiromer doses were similar (10.7 [3.2] and 11.5 [4.0] g, respectively). The primary end point was achieved in 85% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 74-93) of patients taking RAASi and in 84% (95% CI: 71-94) of patients not taking RAASi. From baseline to week 4, the mean (SE) change in serum potassium was −0.67 (0.08) mEq/L in patients taking RAASi and −0.56 (0.10) mEq/L in patients not taking RAASi (both P < .0001 vs baseline, P = nonsignificant between groups). Adverse events were reported in 26 (39%) patients taking RAASi and 25 (54%) not taking RAASi; the most common adverse event was diarrhea (2% and 11%, respectively; no cases were severe). Five patients (2 taking RAASi) reported 6 serious adverse events; none considered related to patiromer. Conclusions: Patiromer was effective and generally well-tolerated for hyperkalemia treatment, whether or not patients were taking RAAS inhibitors.

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