Covid-19 and Heart Involvement: A Systematic Review of Literature

Abstract Background Recent reports in the literature have indicated that infection by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causes cardiac complications, such as heart failure, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, and even fulminant myocarditis. These complications have been identified as the cause of death in some patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Objectives To analyze echocardiographic and electrocardiographic changes, treatments used, and clinical outcomes in patients with myocarditis and COVID-19. Methods The items described for Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) were followed. This review included articles in English, Portuguese, and Spanish that reported cardiac involvement, injury, or myocardial inflammation in patients who acquired COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). Results Five databases were consulted to find 1,726 articles. After applying the eligibility criteria, a total of 22 studies were considered qualified. ST-segment (section of the electrocardiogram corresponding the end of the S wave to the beginning of the T wave) elevation and tachyarrhythmia were the most common changes found in the electrocardiographic analysis of patients affected with COVID-19. Concerning echocardiography, there was a high frequency of decreased ejection fraction and occurrence of pericardial effusion. Conclusion This systematic review provides a potential tool for the analysis of cardiac changes and implications caused in patients affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection, with emphasis on the presence of tachyarrhythmia on electrocardiogram (ECG) and decreased ejection fraction on echocardiogram.

NA FALTA DA CLONIDINA POSSO USAR METILDOPA? / CAN I USE METHYLDOPA IN THE ABSENCE OF CLONIDINE?

A hipertensão arterial resistente (HAR) é uma condição clínica na qual a pressão arterial persiste elevada, acima das metas estabelecidas de controle apesar do uso de três fármacos incluindo um diurético, todos em doses máximas otimizadas ou necessidade de se adicionar quatro ou mais medicamentos para atingir o controle adequado. A terapia com diuréticos, inibidores da enzima de conversão da angiotensina (IECA) ou bloqueadores receptor da angiotensina II (BRA) e bloqueadores de canais de cálcio (BCC) para o controle adequado da pressão arterial já está bem estabelecida pelas diretrizes. A espironolactona firmou-se como quarto fármaco adicional a esse esquema terapêutico, após o estudo Pathway-2. A clonidina passou ser a sexta ou sétima opção, para adição a esta sequência de terapia ficando atrás dos betabloqueadores ou vasodilatadores, dependendo da situação clínica. O estudo brasileiro ReHot, avaliando pacientes com HAR não demonstrou superioridade expressiva deste fármaco em relação a espironolactona, devido aos efeitos adversos, porém não devendo ser substituída pela metildopa pela falta de evidências cientificas em relação a segurança e eficácia do fármaco como terapia adicional para HAR

Resistant arterial hypertension (RAH) is a clinical condition in which blood pressure remains elevated, above the established control goals despite the use of three drugs including a diuretic, all in maximum optimized doses or the need to add four or more medications for achieve adequate control. Therapy with diuretics, ACEI or ARB and CCB for adequate control of blood pressure is already well established by the guidelines. Spironolactone was established as the fourth additional drug to this therapeutic regimen, after the Pathway-2 study. Clonidine became the sixth or seventh option, for addition to this therapy sequence, being behind beta-blockers or vasodilators, depending on the clinical situation. The Brazilian ReHot study, evaluating patients with RAH, did not demonstrate expressive superiority of this drug in relation to spironolactone, due to adverse effects, but should not be replaced by methyldopa due to the lack of scientific evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of the drug as additional therapy for RAH