The Role of Endothelin-I in Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With COVID-19

Abstract

Despite the accumulated global experience in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the issues of diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of the disease are still insufficiently studied. According to a number of publications, vascular dysfunction caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is one of the leading links in pathogenesis. Timely correction of vascular disorders can significantly reduce the number of adverse outcomes. The article presents the results of a study of changes in the value of markers that characterize the state of the cardiovascular system in patients with COVID-19.The aim of the study was to objectively assess the severity of cardiovascular damage in patients with CAVID-19 in the early stages and during the period of convalescence.Materials and Methods: The study included 205 people aged 18 to 85 years. A new coronavirus infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus was confirmed in 190 patients, and 15 people were in contact with COVID-19 patients. The significance of markers of cardiovascular disease in COVID-19 was assessed in 15 patients (the main group) who had clinical symptoms of the acute phase of coronavirus infection and the duration of symptoms was no more than 6 days. The comparison group 1 included 32 patients at a period of 28±1 day from the moment of the appearance of the first symptoms of coronavirus infection, who, after the course of treatment, recovered. The significance of the indicators was clarified by comparing the obtained values with the comparison group 2, which included persons who had contact with COVID-19 patients. The main group and the comparison groups were comparable in age, gender composition, and comorbidity. The study evaluated the values of endothelin-1 in the blood serum of patients of the compared groups. Additionally, MB-creatine kinase, troponin I, and brain natriuretic peptide were determined in blood samples in patients with COVID-19.Results: According to the results of the assessment of the average values, the level of endothelin-1 in the groups with acute manifestations of COVID-19 and among those who came into contact with patients was significantly higher than in patients after achieving a good result of therapy, p = 0.004. There were no significant differences in the assessment of the level of other markers. An increase in the marker of vascular damage endothelin-1 in asymptomatic individuals who have come into contact with patients with coronavirus infection can be used for early detection of vascular pathology.Conclusions: The determination of endothelin-1 levels in COVID-19 patients at various stages of the disease can be used as a sensitive marker of vascular damage for early determination of the prognosis of the course of the disease and its outcomes.Funding Statement: No pharmaceutical companies participated in the preparation and creation of this publication. State budget financing on behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation and the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare for 2020 in the direction of the Industry Research Program of Rospotrebnadzor and the subject of the State Task for 2016-2020. Declaration of Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by the local ethics committee.