Effects of SARS-CoV-2 and its functional receptor ACE2 on the cardiovascular system

Microvascular Dysfunction in COVID-19 Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome

Objective

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is considered to deteriorate endothelial function through hyperinflammation. We aimed to investigate microvascular dysfunction using the angiographic parameters thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count (TFC) and myocardial blush grade (MBG), in COVID-19 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods

One hundred and sixty-five patients presented with ACS (62.4% ST elevated myocardial infarction) and underwent percutaneous coronary intervention between March 1 and June 30, 2020, were enrolled in the study. The polymerase chain reaction test was performed in case of suggestive symptoms or typical computerized tomography findings.

Results

Twenty-six patients (15.7%) were tested positive for COVID-19. Significantly higher values were observed in TFC in patients with COVID-19 (p<0.001), whereas COVID-19 patients had significantly lower MBGs (Grade 0 and 1) (p<0.001). Peak troponin-I value was also higher in the COVID-19 group (27335 vs. 15959 ng/dL, p=0.006). Mortality risk was higher in COVID-19 patients (38.4% vs. 7.2%, p<0.001). TFC and ejection fraction may predict in-hospital mortality among COVID-19 patients with ACS according to logistic regression results. In correlation analysis, TFC correlated positively with C-reactive protein (r=0.340, p<0.001) and peak troponin-I value (r=0.369, p<0.001).

Conclusion

COVID-19 is associated with slow coronary flow and microvascular impairment in ACS.

Bibliometric and visual analysis of cardiovascular diseases and COVID-19 research

Background

The global community has been affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which emerged in December 2019. Since then, many studies have been conducted on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and COVID-19. The aim of this study was to perform a bibliometric and visual analysis of the published relationship between CVDs and COVID-19.

Methods

1,890 publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database on January 5, 2022. Microsoft Office Excel and CiteSpace were then used to carry out scientometric analysis on the relevant literature according to seven aspects: document type, countries/regions, institutions, authors, journals, references, and keywords.

Results

The research on CVDs and COVID-19 is currently in a period of rapid development, with China, USA, England, and Italy leading the field. There is active cooperation between most countries and institutions. Harvard Medical School stands out among the many institutions not only for the largest number of publications, but also for their high quality. Banerjee A, Solomon SD and Narula J are three representative authors in this field. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine was the journal with the highest number of published studies, and The Lancet was the most cited journal. Two documents with a high degree of significance in this field were identified. Popular research topics in this field are specific diseases, such as acute coronary syndrome and heart failure; pathogenesis related to ACE2, insulin resistance and pericyte; the specific therapeutic drug chloroquine; and clinical characteristics, physical activity, and mental health. ACE2 and NF-κB will be the focus of future research.

Conclusions

This study provides useful information for the research of CVDs and COVID-19, including potential collaborators, popular research topics, and a reference for more extensive and in-depth research in the future.

Spectrum of Kidney Injury Following COVID-19 Disease: Renal Biopsy Findings in a Single Italian Pathology Service

The onset of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as a pandemic infection, has led to increasing insights on its pathophysiology and clinical features being revealed, such as a noticeable kidney involvement. In this study, we describe the histopathological, immunofluorescence, and ultrastructural features of biopsy-proven kidney injury observed in a series of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases in our institution from April 2020 to November 2021. We retrieved and retrospectively reviewed nine cases (two pediatric and seven adults) that experienced nephrotic syndrome (six cases), acute kidney injury (two cases), and a clinically silent microhematuria and leukocyturia. Kidney biopsies were investigated by means of light microscopy, direct immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy. The primary diagnoses were minimal change disease (four cases), acute tubular necrosis (two cases), collapsing glomerulopathy (two cases), and C3 glomerulopathy (one case). None of the cases showed viral or viral-like particles on ultrastructural analysis. Novel and specific histologic features on kidney biopsy related to SARS-CoV-2 infection have been gradually disclosed and reported, harboring relevant clinical and therapeutic implications. Recognizing and properly diagnosing renal involvement in patients experiencing COVID-19 could be challenging (due to the lack of direct proof of viral infection, e.g., viral particles) and requires a proper integration of clinical and pathological data.

COVID-19 and the cardiovascular system: insights into effects and treatments

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an acute and highly transmissible infectious disease, has reached a pandemic level since 11 March 2020 and continues to challenge the healthcare system worldwide. The pathogenesis of COVID-19 is a complex process involving mechanisms that suppress the host antiviral and innate immune response, while triggering marked activation of coagulation and hyperinflammation leading to cytokine storm in severe COVID-19. This review summarizes current evidence related to COVID-19-associated cardiovascular severe illness and mortality, which encompasses life-threatening clinical manifestations, including myocardial injury, fulminant myocarditis, cardiac arrhythmia, and ischemic stroke. The onset of hypercoagulable state is consistent with increased venous thromboembolism including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Thromboembolic manifestations include arterial thrombotic events such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and limb ischemia. Several treatment strategies have been investigated to mitigate COVID-19-associated cardiovascular clinical manifestations. The prevalence of thrombo-inflammatory syndrome and subsequent cardiovascular dysfunction prompted the implementation of antithrombotic therapy and strategies targeting major pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in COVID-19 cytokine storm. The development of new guidelines for effective treatment strategies requires concerted efforts to refine our understanding of the mechanisms underlying cardiovascular disease and large-scale clinical trials to reduce the burden of COVID-19 hospitalization and mortality.

Myopericarditis Associated with COVID-19 in a Pediatric Patient with Kidney Failure Receiving Hemodialysis

The outbreak of COVID-19 can be associated with cardiac and pulmonary involvement and is emerging as one of the most significant and life-threatening complications in patients with kidney failure receiving hemodialysis. Here, we report a critically ill case of a 13-year-old female patient with acute pericarditis and bilateral pleurisy, screened positive for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, presented with high fever, frequent dry cough, and dyspnea with tachypnea. COVID-19-induced myopericarditis has been noted to be a complication in patients with concomitant kidney failure with replacement therapy (KFRT). This article brings information in the light of our case experience, suggesting that the direct effect of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on cardiac tissue was a significant contributor to myopericarditis in our patient. Further studies in this direction are required, as such associations have thus far been reported.