These days I was reading a lot of articles about coronavirus and hypertension.
Is known that S protein of coronavirus use ACE2 as receptor to entry in the cell, a protein related to renin-angiotensin system. On the other hand, there are anti-hypertensive drugs that increase the expression of ACE2 (vasodilator function). Could they be facilitating th cell infection? Other explanation could be that the virus is blocking this protein, so increasing the blood pressure and afecting the sick.
Drugs that increase ACE2 levels could facilitate infection (although this is not totally clear, Li et al, J. Virol, 2004), but once infected, they would prevent sever lung infection, since the infection lowers ACE2 levels (Inai et al, Nature 2005, Exp. Physiol. 2008). Would not be better give another antihypertensive drug during the epidemic? (beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, diuretics, ...) Perhaps prevent the masive infection, and once one hypertensive is infected would be better give those that increase ACE2 levels, so preventing the onset of severe lung disease.
Angiotensin receptor blockers at least increase the expression of ACE-2 and could considered as the drugs blocking virus Covid 19. This is the way (artificial increase of the expression of ACE-2) currently considering for possible therapy of Covid 19 ibfection.
As I was reading, it seems that taking medications that increase ACE2 levels would facilitate infection (although this is not very clear, Li et al, J. Virol, 2004), but once infected, they would favor lung infection do not be serious, since the infection lowers ACE2 levels (Inai et al, Nature 2005, Exp. Physiol. 2008). Wouldn't it be logical to give another antihypertensive (beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, diuretics, ...) during the epidemic? Once infected, would be better give those that increase ACE2 levels, so prevents the switch to severe lung disease.
Hi
In fact, both benefits and harms have been claimed. Buth recently, an original paper published in "The New England Journal of Medicine" has proved that the use of ACE inhibitors or ARBs was not linked with the increase risk of in-hospital death.
Title of the paper is: Cardiovasulare disease, drug therapy and mortality in covid 2019.
Regards.
Please see the link below.
https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2213-2600%2820%2930159-4
Also see the following useful links.
https://bpspubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bcp.14873
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7314067/