MUST READ! COVID-19: Swiss Research Indicates That SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Attacks The Lining Of Blood Vessels Across The Body In Severe COVID-19 Stages
COVID-19 Research: Swiss medical researchers from University Hospital Zurich have discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus basically attacks the endothelial cells lining the blood vessels, causing sepsis and multiple organ failure in critically ill COVID-19 patients. The study is published in the Lancet journal.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30937-5/fulltext#%20
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Dr Frank Ruschitzkam lead researcher told
Thailand Medical News, “This virus does not only attack the lungs, it attacks the vessels everywhere.”
He added that the researchers had found that the deadly virus causes more than pneumonia.
Already studies have shown that it attacks the ACE2 receptors in the lungs, kidneys, male gonads, the nervous system, the immunity system by targeting T-Cells and now this.
Dr Ruschitzka added, “It enters the endothelium, a layer of cells, which is the defense line of the blood vessels. So it brings your own defense down and causes problems in microcirculation or circulation in the smallest of blood vessels.
According to Dr Ruschitzka, chairman of the heart center and cardiology department at the university hospital in Switzerland, it then reduces the blood flow to different parts of the body and eventually stops blood circulation,.
He added, “From what we do see clinically, patients have problems in all organs ie in the heart, kidney, intestine, everywhere.”
He further added, “That also explained why smokers and people with pre-existing conditions who had a weakened endothelial function, or unhealthy blood vessels, were more vulnerable to the novel coronavirus.”
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This explains why those underlying conditions included hypertension, or high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and established cardiovascular disease were more at risk.
The research found viral elements within endothelial cells, which line the inside of blood vessels, and inflammatory cells in COVID-19 patients.
Dr Ruschitzka added,” While the results were based on an analysis of three cases, autopsies on other COVID-19 patients had also found their blood vessel linings were ‘full of virus’ and the function of vessels was impaired in all of their organs.”
A case under studied was a 71-year-old COVID-19 patient with coronary artery disease and arterial hypertension who had developed multisystem organ failure and died, according to the
study.
A detailed postmortem analysis of his transplanted kidney showed viral structures in the endothelial cells. Researchers also found inflammatory cells in the heart, small bowel and lungs, where most small vessels appeared congested.
In another patient studied, a 58-year-old female with diabetes, arterial hypertension and obesity developed mesenteric ischemia, or decreased blood flow to the small intestine that can permanently damage the organ. Lymphocytic endotheliitis, which causes inflammation of the endothelium, was also found in her lungs, heart, kidneys and liver.
The researchers based on these research findings advocate therapies to stabilize the endothelium while tackling viral replication.
Besides a vaccine or drug that reduces virus replication, Dr Ruschitzka suggested strengthening vascular health may be key to treating Covid-19 patients.
He added, “All patients who are at risk and the elderly should be treated very well for the underlying cardiovascular conditions. The better they are treated, the more likely they are to survive the COVID-19 infection.”
He further added, “We know that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors ie heart medications used to treat high blood pressure and anti-inflammatory drugs make the endothelium stronger.”
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