scholarly journals Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone System Antagonism in 2019 Novel Coronavirus Acute Lung Injury

Author(s):  
Davide Ventura ◽  
Amy L Carr ◽  
R Duane Davis ◽  
Scott Silvestry ◽  
Linda Bogar ◽  
...  

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.

2021 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 245-249
Author(s):  
Monika Cahova ◽  
Martin Kveton ◽  
Vojtech Petr ◽  
David Funda ◽  
Helena Dankova ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Preclinical studies suggested that pharmacological inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) by ACE inhibitors (ACEis) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) may increase local angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (<i>ACE2</i>) expression. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In this study, we evaluated the effect of ACEi or ARB treatment on expression of <i>ACE2</i>, <i>ACE</i>, and <i>AGTR1</i> in 3-month protocol kidney allograft biopsies of stable patients using RT-qPCR (<i>n</i> = 48). Protein ACE2 expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry from paraffin sections. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The therapy with RAAS blockers was not associated with increased <i>ACE2, ACE</i>, or <i>ATGR1</i> expression in kidney allografts and also ACE2 protein immunohistochemistry did not reveal differences among groups. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> ACEis or ARBs in kidney transplant recipients do not affect local ACE2 expression. This observation supports long-term RAAS treatment in kidney transplant recipients, despite acute complications such as COVID-19 where ACE2 serves as the entry protein for infection.


TH Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 04 (02) ◽  
pp. e138-e144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Miesbach

AbstractThe activated renin–angiotensin system induces a prothrombotic state resulting from the imbalance between coagulation and fibrinolysis. Angiotensin II is the central effector molecule of the activated renin–angiotensin system and is degraded by the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 to angiotensin (1–7). The novel coronavirus infection (classified as COVID-19) is caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and is characterized by an exaggerated inflammatory response that can lead to severe manifestations such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, and death in a proportion of patients, mostly elderly patients with preexisting comorbidities. SARS-CoV-2 uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor to enter the target cells, resulting in activation of the renin–angiotensin system. After downregulating the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, the vasoconstrictor angiotensin II is increasingly produced and its counterregulating molecules angiotensin (1–7) reduced. Angiotensin II increases thrombin formation and impairs fibrinolysis. Elevated levels were strongly associated with viral load and lung injury in patients with severe COVID-19. Therefore, the complex clinical picture of patients with severe complications of COVID-19 is triggered by the various effects of highly expressed angiotensin II on vasculopathy, coagulopathy, and inflammation. Future treatment options should focus on blocking the thrombogenic and inflammatory properties of angiotensin II in COVID-19 patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (Special2) ◽  
pp. 389-394
Author(s):  
Angela Madalina Lazar

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.


2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 180-183
Author(s):  
Zbigniew Heleniak ◽  
Zbigniew Zdrojewski ◽  
Piotr Wisniewski ◽  
Leszek Bieniaszewski ◽  
Boleslaw Rutkowski ◽  
...  

Abstract Endothelial dysfunction could be related to the limited availability of nitric oxide (NO). NO is synthesized with the participation of an NO synthase whose activity is inhibited by asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). The synthesis of ADMA is exacerbated by oxidative stress, and several studies have shown the efficacy of drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) (converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists) in reducing the level of ADMA. The probable mechanism of drug action is a reduction of oxidative stress through a decrease of angiotensin II formation. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of RAAS blockers on the plasma concentration of ADMA in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (ChGN). The study included 37 patients, placed into group A and group B, depending on the treatment. Both groups were treated with RAAS blockers. In group B, immunosuppressive drugs were additionally administered. The control visits were at the 0, 6 and 12 months of observation. In both the studied groups (A+B), a significant reduction of ADMA (0.77 vs 0.4 μmol/l; p<0.05) was noticed. In patients suffering from ChGN, the use of RAAS blockers resulted in a significant decrease of plasma ADMA concentration, independently of immunosupressive treatment.


Author(s):  
Marina Rieder ◽  
Luisa Wirth ◽  
Luisa Pollmeier ◽  
Maren Jeserich ◽  
Isabella Goller ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in COVID-19 is controversially discussed. SARS-CoV-2 enters host cells by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system may affect susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and outcome of patients with COVID-19. Methods In this prospective single-center study, we determined the serum levels of ACE-2, angiotensin II and aldosterone in patients with COVID-19 compared to control patients presenting with similar symptoms in the emergency unit. Results We analyzed serum samples from 24 SARS-CoV-2 positive and 61 SARS-CoV-2 negative patients. SARS-CoV-2 positive and control patients did not differ in baseline patients characteristics, symptoms and clinical presentation. Mean serum concentrations of ACE2, angiotensin II, and aldosterone did not differ between the SARS-CoV-2 positive and the control group. In line with this, serum potassium as surrogate parameter for RAAS activity and blood pressure were similar in both groups. Conclusions In summary, we did not find evidence for altered RAAS activity including angiotensin II, aldosterone, or potassium levels, and blood pressure in patients with COVID-19.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yihienew M. Bezabih ◽  
Alemayehu Bezabih ◽  
Endalkachew Aalamneh ◽  
Gregory M. Peterson ◽  
Woldesellassie M. Bezabhe

AbstractIntroductionThe effects of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors on the clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) have been conflicting in different studies. This meta-analysis was undertaken to provide more conclusive evidence.MethodsA systematic search for published articles was performed in PubMed and EMBASE from January 5 2020 till May 5 2020. Studies that reported the clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19, stratified by the class of concomitant antihypertensive drug therapy, were included. The Mantel-Haenszel random effects model was used to estimate pooled odds ratio (OR).ResultsA total of 6,997 patients with COVID-19 were included, and all of them had hypertension. The overall risk of poor patient outcomes (severe COVID-19 or death) was lower in patients taking RAAS inhibitors (OR=0.84, 95% CI: [0.73, 0.96]; P=0.017) compared with those receiving non-RAAS inhibitor antihypertensives. Patients taking angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) were less likely to experience poor clinical outcomes (OR=0.73, 95% CI: [0.58-0.92]; P=0.01) compared with those receiving angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs). In addition, comparison of ACEIs to the rest of non-ACEI antihypertensives gave a consistently decreased risk of poor COVID-19 outcome (OR=0.77, 95% CI: [0.63-0.93]; P=0.002). However, ARBs did not decrease the risk of poor COVID-19 outcomes compared to all other non-ARB antihypertensives (OR=1.13, 95% CI: [0.95-1.35]).ConclusionThe risk of developing severe illness or death from COVID-19 was lower in patients who received RAAS inhibitors compared with those who took non-RAAS inhibitors. ACEIs might be better in decreasing the severity and mortality of COVID-19 than ARBs.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yihienew Mequanint Bezabih ◽  
Alemayehu Bezabih ◽  
Endalkachew Alamneh ◽  
Gregory M. Peterson ◽  
Woldesellassie Bezabhe

Abstract Background: Reports on the effects of renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors on the clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) have been conflicting. We performed this meta-analysis to find conclusive evidence. Methods: We searched published articles through PubMed, EMBASE and medRxiv from 5 January 2020 to 3 August 2020. Studies that reported clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19, stratified by the class of antihypertensives, were included. Random and fixed-effects models were used to estimate pooled odds ratio (OR). Results: A total 36 studies involving 30,795 patients with COVID-19 were included. The overall risk of poor patient outcomes (severe COVID-19 or death) was lower in patients taking RAAS inhibitors (OR=0.79, 95% CI: [0.67, 0.95]) compared with those receiving non-RAAS inhibitor antihypertensives. However, further sub-meta-analysis showed that specific RAAS inhibitors did not show a reduction of poor COVID-19 outcomes when compared with any class of antihypertensive except beta-blockers (BBs). For example, compared to calcium channel blockers (CCBs), neither angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) (OR=0.91, 95% CI: [0.67, 1.23]) nor angiotensin-II receptor blockers (ARBs) (OR=0.90, 95% CI: [0.62, 1.33]) showed a reduction of poor COVID-19 outcomes. When compared with BBs, however, both ACEIs (OR=0.85, 95% CI: [0.73, 0.99) and ARBs (OR=0.72, 95% CI: [0.55, 0.94]) showed an apparent decrease in poor COVID-19 outcomes. Conclusions: RAAS inhibitors did not increase the risk of mortality or severity of COVID-19. Differences in COVID-19 clinical outcomes between different class of antihypertensive drugs were likely due to the underlying comorbidities for which the antihypertensive drugs were prescribed.


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