Objective: The present short report summarizes some clinical characteristics of six patients affected by stroke while being on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)2 inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) before and during COVID-19. Methods: Medical charts and images of six patients affected by stroke while being on ACE-Is and ARBs therapy before and during COVID-19 outbreak in Lombardy region, Italy, were reviewed. Results: Three patients had a dural sinus thrombosis, whereas the remaining suffered by an arterial ischemia, which was a middle cerebral artery occlusion in one case, and a posterior-inferior cerebellar artery occlusion in the remaining two. All patients showed clinical features typical of SARS-CoV-2 infection and positive chest CT scan, and were treated with ACE-Is as needed. Hypercoagulability panel was negative in any case. A recovery was achieved in all cases, although in a variable manner. Conclusions: Whether or not and in which manner the pharmacomodulation of the renin-angiotensin system may had affect the clinical course of the reported six COVID-19 patients affected by stroke has to be still clarified. An urgent need of randomized clinical trials aimed to assess the safety profile and neuroprotective properties of ACE-Is and ARBs in COVID-19 patients diagnosed with stroke does exists.

Targeting of renin-angiotensin system in COVID-19 patients affected by stroke: Emerging concerns about detrimental vs. benefit effect

Luzzi S.
Writing – Original Draft Preparation
;
Giotta Lucifero A.;Marasco S.;Del Maestro M.;
2020-01-01

Abstract

Objective: The present short report summarizes some clinical characteristics of six patients affected by stroke while being on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)2 inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) before and during COVID-19. Methods: Medical charts and images of six patients affected by stroke while being on ACE-Is and ARBs therapy before and during COVID-19 outbreak in Lombardy region, Italy, were reviewed. Results: Three patients had a dural sinus thrombosis, whereas the remaining suffered by an arterial ischemia, which was a middle cerebral artery occlusion in one case, and a posterior-inferior cerebellar artery occlusion in the remaining two. All patients showed clinical features typical of SARS-CoV-2 infection and positive chest CT scan, and were treated with ACE-Is as needed. Hypercoagulability panel was negative in any case. A recovery was achieved in all cases, although in a variable manner. Conclusions: Whether or not and in which manner the pharmacomodulation of the renin-angiotensin system may had affect the clinical course of the reported six COVID-19 patients affected by stroke has to be still clarified. An urgent need of randomized clinical trials aimed to assess the safety profile and neuroprotective properties of ACE-Is and ARBs in COVID-19 patients diagnosed with stroke does exists.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11571/1345315
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